Cited by 278Orbital Angular Momentum in OpticsNonlinear Photonic SystemsTopological Materials and Phenomena

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 1 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Generation of Optical Skyrmions with Tunable Topological Textures

Open access
Shen, Yijie, Martínez, Eduardo Casas, Rosales-Guzmán, Carmelo·2022·ACS Photonics

Abstract

In recent times, the optical-analogous skyrmions, topological quasiparticles with sophisticated vectorial structures in light, have received an increasing amount of interest. Here we propose theortically and experimentally a generalized family of these, the tunable optical skyrmions, unveiling a new mechanism to transform between various skyrmionic topologies, including Néel, Bloch, and antiskyrmion types, via simple parametric tuning. In addition, a geometric Skyrme–Poincaré representation is proposed to visualize the complete topological evolution of tunable skyrmions, which we term the skyrmion torus. To generate the tunable optical skyrmions experimentally, we implemented a digital hologram system based on a spatial light modulator, the results of which show great agreement with our theoretical predictions.

Overview

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TL;DR

The paper proposes and experimentally demonstrates a generalized family of tunable optical skyrmions whose topological textures can be transformed among Néel-, Bloch-, and antiskyrmion types via simple parametric tuning. It introduces a Skyrme-Poincaré sphere to map these topological transformations and realizes the skyrmions in Stokes vector fields of structured vector beams using a digital hologram system.

Key findings

  • A closed-form vector field with two additional parameters, φ₁ and φ₂, enables tuning among skyrmion topologies: φ₁ = φ₂ = φ gives Néel-type at φ = 0, π and Bloch-type at φ = π/2, 3π/2; φ₁ = 0, φ₂ = φ gives Néel-to-antiskyrmion transformation with antiskyrmion at φ = π; φ₁ = π/2, φ₂ = φ gives Bloch-to-antiskyrmion transformation with antiskyrmion at φ = 3π/2.
  • The skyrmion number is s = p·m, where m = 1 with γ = 0, π is Néel-type and γ = ±π/2 is Bloch-type, while m = −1 is anti-skyrmion; for normal polarity p = 1, s = 1 for Néel–Bloch tuning and s = −1 for anti-skyrmions.
  • The proposed Skyrme-Poincaré sphere maps topological evolution: the equator represents Néel/Bloch transformations, the poles represent anti-skyrmions, and it can be bidirectionally mapped to the conventional OAM Poincaré sphere.
  • The authors experimentally generated tunable Stokes skyrmions with an SLM-based digital hologram system, claiming the first experimental generation of topology-tunable optical skyrmions in free space and the first realization of optical anti-skyrmions, with “great agreement” to theory.

Methods

  • Theoretically, the authors derive a generalized skyrmionic vector field from a surface plasmon polariton model by adding parameters φ₁ and φ₂, then construct vector beams ψ = ψ₁R + ψ₂L whose spatial modes are derived from the skyrmion vector components and whose Stokes vector field forms the skyrmion.
  • Experimentally, they use a 632.8 nm HeNe laser, a spatial light modulator split into two independent hologram screens, spatial filtering, and a common-path triangular Sagnac interferometer with a polarizing beam splitter to generate and co-axially superpose the vector beams.
  • Skyrmions are reconstructed via Stokes polarimetry: intensities I_H, I_V, I_D, and I_R are measured with phase retarders and a CCD camera, and Stokes parameters are computed as S₀ = I_H + I_V, S₁ = 2I_H − S₀, S₂ = 2I_D − S₀, S₃ = 2I_R − S₀.

Limitations

  • The paper states that experimentally realizing the tunable skyrmions directly with surface plasmon polaritons would be cumbersome because φ₁ and φ₂ induce extreme conditions that are hard to fulfill, since stable SPP fields require rigorous conditions.
  • Evident from the text: the experimental demonstration is limited to Stokes vector fields of structured vector beams in free space; other proposed platforms such as tightly focused spin vectors, propagating structured pulses, and pseudospins in nonlinear media are suggested but not experimentally tested.
  • Evident from the text: the experimental agreement with theory is described qualitatively as “great agreement,” with no quantitative fidelity or error metrics reported.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1021/acsphotonics.1c01703

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 5
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 5
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
9 of 9
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A stable SPP field requires more rigorous conditions than a free-space light field.

    “as a stable SPP field requires rigorous conditions than a free-space light field.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No optical anti-skyrmion had been proposed before this work.

    “Finally, the optical anti-skyrmion also has never been proposed yet.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No experimental results for free-space skyrmions had been reported before this work.

    “however, no experimental results have been reported for free-space skyrmions.”
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Metadata

Authors
Shen, Y., Martínez, E. C., & Rosales-Guzmán, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (MX)
  • Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Corresponding author
Shen, Yijie
Venue
ACS Photonics
Published
2022-01-04
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
296-303
ISSN
2330-4022 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4214759217
Cited by
278
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 91 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 12
FWCI
18.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • ACS Photonics (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (11934013, 61975047)
  • High-Level Talents Project of Heilongjiang Province (2020GSP12)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Nonlinear Photonic Systems
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Condensed Matter Physics › Topological Materials and Phenomena
Keywords
optical skyrmions, topological textures, Néel skyrmions, Bloch skyrmions, antiskyrmions, parameter tuning, digital holography, spatial light modulator, vectorial light

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