Scattering invariance for arbitrary polarizations protected by joint spatial-duality symmetries

Abstract

We reveal how to exploit joint spatial-electromagnetic duality symmetries to obtain invariant scattering properties (including extinction, scattering, absorption) of self-dual scattering systems for incident waves of arbitrary polarizations. The electromagnetic duality ensures the helicity preservation along all scattering directions, and thus intrinsically eliminates the interferences between the two scattering channels originating from the circularly polarized components of incident waves. This absence of interference directly secures invariant scattering properties for all polarizations located on the same latitude circle of the Poincaré sphere, which are characterized by polarization ellipses of the same eccentricity and handedness. Further incorporations of mirror and/or inversion symmetries would lead to such invariance throughout the whole Poincaré sphere, guaranteeing invariant scattering properties for all polarizations. Simultaneous exploitations of composite symmetries of different natures render an extra dimension of freedom for scattering manipulations, offering new insights for both fundamental explorations and optical device engineering related to symmetry dictated light-matter interactions.

arXiv comment6 pages and 4 figures; Comments to welcome

References in corpus (10)

• Generalized Kerker Effects in Nanophotonics and Meta-Optics
• Electromagnetic duality symmetry and helicity conservation for the macroscopic Maxwell's equations (previously "Experimental demonstration of electromagnetic duality symmetry breaking")
• Duality constrained meta atoms for transformation optics
• Forward and backward helicity scattering coefficients for systems with discrete rotational symmetry
• Optically-isotropic responses induced by discrete rotational symmetry of nanoparticle clusters
• Core-shell particles as building blocks for systems with high duality symmetry
• Scattering Activities Bounded by Reciprocity and Parity Conservation
• Global Mie Scattering
• Scattering and absorption invariance of nonmagnetic particles under duality transformations
• Symmetry Protected Invariant Scattering Properties for Arbitrary Polarizations

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Arbitrary Polarization-Independent Backscattering or Reflection by Rotationally-Symmetric Reciprocal Structures
• Electromagnetic Duality Symmetry-Protected Dirac-Like Cones