We have studied the problem of light scattering by an ensemble of dipoles with both electric and magnetic polarizabilities. Using the coupled electric and magnetic dipole method as the formal base, we have generalized the eigenvector decomposition of the local dipole moments previously derived for purely electric particles to the case of both electric and magnetic dipoles. We have analyzed the properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors in the most elementary case of two particles. In the purely electric case, the eigenvalues correspond to the resonance modes of the system due to the electromagnetic coupling of its components. For a two-dipole system with both electric and magnetic responses, purely electric, purely magnetic, and mixed states can be distinguished. The resonance spectrum is analyzed as a function of the magnetic permeability, and it is shown that the latter can be fitted quite accurately by the eigenmode decomposition.

• Received 11 June 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.043834