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Symmetry Protected Invariant Scattering Properties for Arbitrary Polarizations

Polarization independent Mie scattering of building blocks is foundational 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 we present a comprehensive recipe to achieve invariant scattering properties (including extinction, scattering and absorption) for arbitrary polarizations, 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 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. In sharp contrast to previous investigations that rely heavily on complicated algebraic formulas, our arguments are fully intuitive and geometric, bringing to surface the essential physical principles rather than obscuring them. The all-polarization invariance we reveal is induced by discrete spatial symmetries of the scattering configurations, underlying which there are functioning laws of reciprocity and conservation of parity and helicity. This symmetry-protected intrinsic invariance is robust against any symmetry-preserving perturbations, which may render extra flexibilities for designing optical devices with stable functionalities.