Indexed by: Journal paper

Journal: Laser & Photonics Rev

Affiliation of Author(s): 光电学院，国家光电研究中心

Place of Publication: 美国

Discipline: Engineering

Funded by: 自然科学基金

Document Type: J

Volume: 15

Issue: 6

Key Words: 无

DOI number: 10.1002/lpor.202000496

Date of Publication: 2021-04-14

Teaching and Research Group: c716

Abstract: Polarization independent Mie scattering of building blocks is fundamental for constructions of optical systems with robust functionalities. Conventional studies for such polarization independence are generally restricted to special states of either linear or circular polarizations, widely neglecting elliptically-polarized states that are generically present in realistic applications. Here, a comprehensive recipe to achieve invariant scattering properties in terms of cross sections for plane waves of arbitrary polarizations is presented, requiring only rotation symmetry and absence of optical activities. It is discovered that sole rotation symmetries can effectively decouple the two scattering channels that originate from the incident circularly polarized plane waves of opposite handedness, leading to invariance of all scattering properties for any polarizations on the same latitude circle of the Poincaré sphere. Further incorporations of extra inversion or mirror symmetries would eliminate the optical activities and thus ensure scattering property invariance for arbitrary polarizations. The all-polarization invariance revealed is induced by the joint functions of discrete spatial symmetries, reciprocity, parity conservation and helicity preservation along the forward direction. This symmetry-protected intrinsic invariance, independent of wavelength or material parameters, is robust against any symmetry-preserving perturbations, which may render extra flexibilities for designing optical devices with stable functionalities.

Note: 无

Links to published journals: https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202000496