Among the material families used in nanophotonics, the fundamental mode for metal nanostructures is electric, while that for dielectric nanostructures is magnetic. Here, we consider hybrid nanophotonics, an emerging field of research that mixes both materials into one hybrid structure to benefit from the best of both worlds. It is demonstrated that the magnetic dipole in dielectrics can be entirely suppressed for small interparticle distances by the near-field produced by a nearby metal nanostructure. The explanation of the observed effect is given by considering the formation of a standing wave between the incident field and the light scattered from the metal particle. The analytical coupled electric and magnetic dipole method (CEMD) along with the full wave surface integral equation method (SIE) are used to examine this phenomenon. The conditions required for the observation of the magnetic dipole suppression in the visible range for high refractive index dielectric nanoparticles are described. The influence of the effect on the ability to control the directivity of the radiation in the far-field is considered. We further show that the electric and magnetic responses can be enhanced or suppressed by positioning the dielectric particle in the nodes of the standing wave formed by the metallic particle. This controlled near-field interaction provides a handle on the far-field response of the system, with possible applications as optical switches.
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