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Skyrmionic Polarization Texture around the Phase Singularity of Optical Vortices
Nilo Mata-Cervera1,2, Deepak K Sharma3, Yijie Shen1,4
1Nanyang Technological University, Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Singapore 637371, Republic of Singapore.
Physical Review Letters
|August 4, 2025
Summary
Researchers discovered Gauss-Stokes (GS) skyrmions, a new type of optical skyrmion found in optical vortices. These skyrmions arise naturally from a single beam, unlike previous types requiring complex beam shaping.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Topological Matter Physics
Background:
- Optical skyrmions are topological spin-like structures in light fields.
- Previous research focused on engineered vector beams for optical skyrmions.
- The role of axial fields in skyrmion formation was not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the discovery of a naturally occurring type of optical skyrmion, termed Gauss-Stokes (GS) skyrmions.
- To demonstrate that GS skyrmions can form from a single scalar beam without complex beam engineering.
- To investigate the influence of axial fields on skyrmion formation and properties.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis based on Gauss's divergence law.
- Experimental observation using focused optical fields with an enhanced axial component.
- Characterization of polarization singularities and textures.
Main Results:
- Identification of Gauss-Stokes (GS) skyrmions in optical vortices.
- Demonstration of GS skyrmions arising from a single monochromatic scalar beam.
- Observation of a polarization singularity concealed by an axial field, surrounded by a skyrmionic polarization texture.
- Experimental validation of the predicted topological properties.
Conclusions:
- GS skyrmions represent a novel class of optical topological structures.
- Their natural occurrence simplifies the generation and study of optical skyrmions.
- The findings offer new insights into the interplay of transverse and axial fields in structured light.
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