In a pioneering convergence of photonics and condensed matter physics, an international consortium of researchers has introduced a revolutionary optical technique to fabricate and govern topological solitons in ferroelectric materials, offering transformative potential for the future of memory devices and information processing technologies. This breakthrough leverages the intrinsic properties of structured light to precisely control nano-scale topological configurations such as skyrmions and the rarely observed antiskyrmions within ultrathin ferroelectric films.
Published in the prestigious journal Physical Review B, this study hinges on the novel application of the Poincaré sphere—a longstanding geometric tool traditionally employed to describe light’s polarization states—as an active mechanism for engineering topological solitons. By manipulating the phase and geometry of laser beams, the researchers achieved unprecedented dynamic control over the formation, evolution, and interaction of complex topological structures. This approach transcends conventional manipulation techniques, offering a fully optical and ultrafast avenue to harness and reconfigure matter at the nanoscale.
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