Configuring the cancellation of optical near-fields

The characteristic near-field behavior of electromagnetic fields is open to a variety of interpretations. In a classical sense the term 'near-field' can be taken to signify a region, sufficiently close to some primary or secondary source, that the onset of retardation features is insignificant; a quantum theoretic explanation might focus more on the large momentum uncertainty that operates at small distances. Together, both near-field and wave-zone (radiative) features are fully accommodated in a retarded resonance propagation tensor, within which each component individually represents one asymptotic limit - alongside a third term that is distinctly operative at distances comparable to the optical wavelength. The propagation tensor takes different forms according to the level of multipole involved in the signal production and detection. In this presentation the nature and symmetry properties of the retarded propagation tensor are explored with reference to various forms of electric interaction, and it is shown how a suitable arrangement of optical beams can lead to the complete cancellation of near-fields. The conditions for such behavior are fully determined and some important optical trapping applications are discussed.