<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">Q</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> -Plates: From Optical Vortices to Optical Skyrmions

Abstract

We report on the extension of the q-plate concept, a hallmark of spin-orbit optical vortex generation since its introduction in 2006, to the generation of optical skyrmions. Stokes skyrmions of arbitrary order with polarization-controlled Skyrme number and reconfigurable multiskyrmions are obtained. This is done by endowing q-plates with a winding number associated with the radial degree of freedom that adds to the usual one associated with the azimuthal degree of freedom.

Topics & Concepts