Paraxial skyrmionic beams

Gao, S., Speirits, F. C. , Castellucci, F., Franke-Arnold, S. , Barnett, S. M. and Götte, J. B. (2020) Paraxial skyrmionic beams. Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 102, 053513. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.102.053513)

Abstract

We show that a class of vector vortex beams possesses a topological property that derives both from the spatially varying amplitude of the field and also from its varying polarization. This property arises as a consequence of the inherent Skyrmionic nature of such beams and is quantified by the associated Skyrmion number, which embodies a topological property of the beam. We illustrate this idea for some of the simplest vector beams and discuss the physical significance of the Skyrmion number in this context.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Royal Society (RP150122 and RPEA180010), and by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/R008264/1) and by the European Training Network ColOpt, funded by the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action, Grant Agreement No. 721465.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barnett, Professor Stephen and Franke-Arnold, Professor Sonja and Castellucci, Dr Francesco and Speirits, Dr Fiona and Goette, Dr Joerg and Gao, Miss Sijia
• Authors: Gao, S., Speirits, F. C., Castellucci, F., Franke-Arnold, S., Barnett, S. M., and Götte, J. B.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 2469-9926
• ISSN (Online): 2469-9934
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 102:053513
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173378		Astronomy and physics, theoretical physics and application physics / Quantum Theory. Royal Society Research Professorship.	Stephen Barnett	The Royal Society (ROYSOC)	RP150122	P&S - Physics & Astronomy
300116		Relativistic Electron Vortices	Stephen Barnett	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/R008264/1	P&S - Physics & Astronomy
300412		Collective effects and optomechanics in ultra-cold matter	Sonja Franke-Arnold	European Commission (EC)	721465	P&S - Physics & Astronomy