On lines of constant polarisation in structured light beams

Barnett, Stephen M.; Speirits, Fiona C.; Goette, Joerg B.

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/ace8b7

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2024

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Cited by 2 publications

References 36 publications

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Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

Götte,

Ye,

McWilliams

et al. 2024

EPJ Web Conf.

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Vector light beams feature a spatially varying optical polarisation and can exhibit localised structures reminiscent of the skyrmions familiar from the study of magnetic media. We present a theory and experimental measurements of such skyrmions in both paraxial and non-paraxial optics. A key feature for our analysis is the transverse skyrmion field which determines the properties of the skyrmions and traces out field lines. In paraxial optics these field lines are lines of constant polarisation, but in non-paraxial optics, the fact the polarisation ellipses are no longer restricted to the transverse plane, makes it necessary to introduce several different skyrmion fields, each representing a different aspect of the three-dimensional optical polarisation.

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Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

Götte,

Ye,

McWilliams

et al. 2024

EPJ Web Conf.

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A topological approach for characterising optical skyrmions

McWilliam,

Cisowski,

et al. 2024

Complex Light and Optical Forces XVIII

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Skyrmions are topologically protected field configurations characterised by a topological index, the skyrmion number. Optical skyrmions are ideally suited to investigate topological structures due to the ease of generating arbitrary light fields, and the freedom from energy constraints encountered by, for example, magnetic skyrmions. Building on our previous work of a topologically defined skyrmion number, 1 here we demonstrate the conservation of the skyrmion number of hedgehog skyrmions and bimerons under propagation. We furthermore generate tunable multi-skyrmions from superpositions of oppositely polarised Gaussian and split-vortex beams of different waists, and find that the skyrmion number is conserved as a function of waist scaling. For both cases, the topological definition of the skyrmion number forms an intuitive geometric approach to understanding the underlying topology and to identifying the individual skyrmion structures.

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On lines of constant polarisation in structured light beams

Abstract: We show that Skyrmion ﬁeld lines, constructed from the local Stokes parameters, trace out lines of constant optical polarisation

Cited by 2 publications

References 36 publications

Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

A topological approach for characterising optical skyrmions

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On lines of constant polarisation in structured light beams

Abstract: We show that Skyrmion ﬁeld lines, constructed from the local Stokes parameters, trace out lines of constant optical polarisation&#xD;

Cited by 2 publications

References 36 publications

Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

Paraxial and non-paraxial optical skyrmions

A topological approach for characterising optical skyrmions

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Product

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Abstract: We show that Skyrmion ﬁeld lines, constructed from the local Stokes parameters, trace out lines of constant optical polarisation