Topologically protected optical quasiparticles with sophisticated vectorial structures, i.e. analogous optical skyrmions, have attracted much attention, and they are classified into different topological textures, such as Neél-, Bloch-, and anti-skyrmion. However, the generation and application of analogous optical skyrmions are still an emerging topic in their infancy.
We herein propose a compact and robust approach to generate analogous optical skyrmions based on a single-path polarization interferometer with a spatial light modulator (SLM). Also, we report on the first demonstration of analogous optical skyrmions induced exotic surface reliefs onto azopolymers associated with the trans-cis-trans isomerization reaction.
Recently investigated free-space optical skyrmion beams have an exciting array of application areas, in particular for material science. Current generation methods typically rely on expensive spatial light modulators and bulky apparatus. We demonstrate a laser source for optical skyrmion beams at red (640nm) and orange (607nm) wavelengths using a praseodymium:YLF gain medium. The interferometric output coupler gave a high-quality first order vortex Laguerre-Gaussian output, which was combined with the fundamental Gaussian output and converted into polarisation skyrmions. Bloch-, N´eel-, and anti-skyrmions were generated, which were propagation stable and had measure skyrmion numbers close to 1. This low-cost and compact source should be useful to diversify optical skyrmion research and could be easily adapted to other laser gain media and wavelengths.
Full Poincaré beams, formed of all polarization states represented on a Poincaré sphere, have been intensively studied as an analogous topological quasiparticle, referred an optical skyrmion, in fundamental physics and advanced technologies. Néel-, Bloch-, and anti- skyrmions have been discovered in magnetic materials and liquid crystals, however, the generation of optical skyrmions is still an emerging topic in its infancy. In this study, we propose a robust and cost-saving system, formed simply of a single spatial light modulator with a self-referenced interferometric configuration, and waveplates, which enables the generation of some types of optical skyrmions.
Full Poincaré beams (optical skyrmions), in which all polarization states on the Poincaré sphere are projected onto the beam cross section, exhibit exotic vectorial structures, and they will offer fundamental physics as topological quasiparticles and advanced technologies, such as optical data storage, optical/quantum communication, and encryption with the freedom of skyrmion states. We here propose a robust and cost-saving system to generate versatile optical skyrmions by employing a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a self-referenced interferometric configuration. We demonstrate the generation of optical skyrmions, formed of a fundamental Gaussian and a first-order Laguerre-Gauss modes, as evidenced by a linearly polarized spiral spatial form and orthogonal Stokes parameters.
We report on the direct generation of higher-order cylindrical vector vortex modes at red (640 nm) from the Pr3+:LiYF4 (Pr3+:YLF) laser with an intra-cavity plano-convex spherical lens. Desired cylindrical vector vortex mode is selectively generated from the laser cavity appropriately by adjusting an on-axis position of the intra-cavity lens. Our laser system can operate at single and superposed vector vortex modes. Such compact and cost-saving vector vortex laser source can be easily integrated to any commercial device for applications.
Much research has been performed into applications of visible vortex Laguerre-Gaussian modes, including chiral material fabrication. These will demand compact, robust sources at a range of emission wavelengths. We have developed an ultracompact vortex laser source with a blue (442nm) diode pumped Pr3+ doped water-proof fluoro-aluminate glass (Pr:WPFGF) fibre laser, emitting red (638nm) and, for the first time, orange (612nm) vortex modes, in addition to balanced dual wavelength emission. The laser uses a standard microscope slide as an interferometric output coupler to convert the internal Gaussian mode into a vortex output, yielding high quality first order vortex modes in a compact setup. We additionally demonstrate the broad (∼5 nm) emission bands in the orange (610 nm), red (637 nm) and infrared regions (698 nm), with the potential for green (530 nm) and cyan (485 nm) emission.
Herein, we report on the direct generation of red (640 nm) and orange (607 nm) higher-order LG modes from the Pr3+:LiYF4 (Pr3+:YLF) laser with an intra-cavity plano-convex spherical lens. The strong spherical aberration of the intra-cavity lens allows the oscillation of red higher-order LG modes represented by the coherent superposition of degenerated LG modes with positive and negative orbital angular momentum (OAM), |ℓ|≤31. A desired higher-order LG mode is selectively generated from the laser cavity simply by adjusting an on-axis position of the intra-cavity lens. Also, the system enables the generation of orange higher-order LG modes coherently superposed by degenerated positive and negative LG modes with |ℓ|≤17.
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