Fractional optical skyrmions
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
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| _version_ | 1866912909630636032 |
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| author | Cao, Yuancong Kumar, Ram Nandan Bezuidenhout, Hadrian Cheng, Mingjian Guo, Lixin Forbes, Andrew |
| author_facet | Cao, Yuancong Kumar, Ram Nandan Bezuidenhout, Hadrian Cheng, Mingjian Guo, Lixin Forbes, Andrew |
| contents | Optical topologies in the form of Skyrmions have attracted significant interest of late, where their integer Skyrmion number has been shown to be robust to complex media. Here we create the first fractional Skyrmions by structuring light as a vectorial superposition of non-integer orbital angular momentum. We unravel the map structure to reveal a new phenomenon, the abrupt transition jumps in skyrmion number, which serves to reinforce the integer nature of skyrmion topologies. Our experimental demonstration agrees well with simulation, opening a new spectrum of optical topologies to explore, with exciting possibilities in optical communication and sensing. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_15464 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Fractional optical skyrmions Cao, Yuancong Kumar, Ram Nandan Bezuidenhout, Hadrian Cheng, Mingjian Guo, Lixin Forbes, Andrew Optics Optical topologies in the form of Skyrmions have attracted significant interest of late, where their integer Skyrmion number has been shown to be robust to complex media. Here we create the first fractional Skyrmions by structuring light as a vectorial superposition of non-integer orbital angular momentum. We unravel the map structure to reveal a new phenomenon, the abrupt transition jumps in skyrmion number, which serves to reinforce the integer nature of skyrmion topologies. Our experimental demonstration agrees well with simulation, opening a new spectrum of optical topologies to explore, with exciting possibilities in optical communication and sensing. |
| title | Fractional optical skyrmions |
| topic | Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.15464 |