Optical skyrmion lattice in evanescent electromagnetic fields

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Photonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Topological defects are crucial in various physical systems.
• Skyrmions, a type of topological defect, are promising for magnetic storage and spintronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the generation of optical skyrmion lattices using evanescent electromagnetic fields.
• To investigate the properties and tunability of these optical skyrmions.

Main Methods:

• Generation of optical skyrmions using evanescent electromagnetic fields.
• Utilizing surface plasmon polaritons for generation.
• Imaging with phase-resolved near-field optical microscopy.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of optical skyrmion lattices.
• Demonstrated robustness of the lattice to imperfections.
• Showcased continuous tunability of topological domain walls, altering skyrmion structure (bubble to Néel type).

Conclusions:

• Optical skyrmion lattices can be generated using evanescent fields.
• Tunable topological domain walls offer control over skyrmion properties.
• Photonic skyrmions open possibilities for optical information processing, transfer, and storage.