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Optical skyrmions and other topological quasiparticles of light

Nature Photonics volume 18, pages 15–25 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Skyrmions are topologically stable quasiparticles that have been predicted and demonstrated in quantum fields, solid-state physics and magnetic materials, but only recently observed in electromagnetic fields. Here we review the recent advances in optical skyrmions within a unified topological framework. Starting from fundamental theories and classification of skyrmionic states, we describe generation and topological control of different kinds of skyrmions in evanescent, structured and spatiotemporal optical fields. We further highlight generalized classes of optical topological quasiparticles beyond skyrmions and outline the emerging applications, future trends and open challenges. A complex vectorial field structure of optical quasiparticles with versatile topological characteristics emerges as an important feature in modern spin optics, imaging, metrology, optical forces, structured light, and topological and quantum technologies.

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Fig. 1: Topological quasiparticle classification.
Fig. 2: Construction of optical skyrmions.
Fig. 3: Diversified optical skyrmions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C. Guo for useful discussions and P. Ornelas for assisting with graphics. Y. S. acknowledges the support from Nanyang Technological University Start Up Grant. This work was funded by Guangdong Major Project of Basic Research number 2020B0301030009, National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 12047540, U1701661, 61935013, 62075139, 92250304 and 12174266), Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen (grant RCJC20200714114435063), and European Research Council iCOMM project (789340).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Yijie Shen

  2. Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, The Photonics Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Yijie Shen

  3. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Yijie Shen

  4. Nanophotonics Research Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology & Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China

    Qiang Zhang, Peng Shi, Luping Du & Xiaocong Yuan

  5. Department of Physics and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, London, UK

    Anatoly V. Zayats

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Supplementary Fig. 1.

Supplementary Video 1

Visualization of a topologically protected transformation of a Bloch-type skyrmion using z-component colour convention.

Supplementary Video 2

Visualization of a topologically protected transformation of a Bloch-type skyrmion using hue colour convention.

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Shen, Y., Zhang, Q., Shi, P. et al. Optical skyrmions and other topological quasiparticles of light. Nat. Photon. 18, 15–25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-023-01325-7

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