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Scanning SQUID Study of Vortex Manipulation by Local Contact

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Published on: February 1, 2017

Polaritonic Vortices with a Half-Integer Charge.

Lin Xiong¹, Yutao Li¹, Dorri Halbertal¹

¹Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States.

|October 28, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers visualized nanoscale meron spin textures using phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride. This discovery in condensed matter physics opens new avenues for controlling and observing topological textures.

Keywords:

meron near-field microscopy optical vortex phonon polariton topology

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Area of Science:

Condensed matter physics
Nanophotonics
Topological physics

Background:

Topological spin textures, including merons with half-integer topological charge, are crucial in various scientific fields.
Merons exhibit vortex-like swirling patterns and cannot be continuously deformed into a polarized state.

Purpose of the Study:

To visualize optical spin angular momentum of phonon polaritons resembling nanoscale meron spin textures.
To explore the potential of phonon polaritons as a platform for studying topological phenomena.

Main Methods:

Excitation of phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride using circularly polarized light on a ring-shaped antenna.
Imaging of the polariton field using infrared near-field techniques.

Main Results:

Visualization of optical spin angular momentum in phonon polaritons exhibiting meron-like spin textures.
Demonstration that the polariton field possesses a half-integer topological charge, dependent on incident light's handedness.

Conclusions:

Phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride provide a novel platform for creating and observing nanoscale topological spin textures.
This work advances the understanding and manipulation of topological textures in condensed matter systems.