Free-Form Flexible Metasurfaces Robustly Generating Microwave Skyrmions

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Metamaterials Science
• Information Technology

Background:

• Skyrmions are topologically stable vector textures with potential for high-density data storage and communications.
• Current skyrmion generation methods rely on planar, rigid designs with strict fabrication needs.
• There is a need for flexible and robust platforms for skyrmion-based applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a free-form flexible metasurface for generating skyrmions.
• To investigate the topological robustness of skyrmions on flexible metasurfaces.
• To explore applications in wearable devices and resilient communication systems.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of free-form flexible metasurfaces.
• Generation of skyrmions using electromagnetic fields on the flexible metasurfaces.
• Experimental testing of skyrmion topological robustness under varying disorder conditions.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of skyrmion generation on free-form flexible metasurfaces.
• Experimental validation of outstanding topological robustness of skyrmion number despite surface disorder.
• Achieved robustness unattainable with conventional carriers due to intrinsic topological protection and material deformability.

Conclusions:

• Free-form flexible metasurfaces provide a compact and inherently robust framework for skyrmion-based information transfer.
• The developed platform is suitable for topologically resilient light fields in wearable and flexible devices.
• This work motivates future extensions to THz and optical frequencies for next-generation robust free-space communication networks.