Tunable Anomalous Scattering and Negative Asymmetry Parameter in a Gain-Functionalized Low Refractive Index Sphere

[Image: see text] Usually, low refractive index passive spheres exhibit strong forward scattering and a positive asymmetry parameter due to weak interference between the electric and magnetic scattering channels. In this work, we investigate, analytically and numerically, the forward scattering of light by a gain-functionalized low refractive index dielectric sphere. It is shown that by tuning the optical gain one can optimize the interference, which provides a novel paradigm to achieve the zero forward scattering and negative asymmetry parameter even for a low refractive index sphere. As a result, a low-density collection of such identical back scatterers provides an anomalous regime, where the scattering mean free path and extinction mean free path are greater than the transport mean free path. Furthermore, we also provide the numerical guideline to achieve the larger extinction mean free path without achieving preferential back-scattering.