Abstract
Abstract Polarization and related spin properties are important characteristics of electromagnetic waves and their manipulation is crucial in almost all photonic applications. Magnetic materials are often used for controlling light polarization through the magneto-optical Kerr or Faraday effects. Recently, complex topological structures of the optical spin have been demonstrated in the evanescent light field, which in the presence of the spin–orbit coupling may form photonic skyrmions. Here, we investigate the optical spin–orbit coupling in the presence of magnetization and the interaction between photonic skyrmions and magnetic domains. We demonstrate that the magnetization is responsible for the modulation of the optical spin distribution, resulting in twisted Neel-type skyrmions. This effect can be used for the visualization of magnetic domain structure with both in plane and polar orientation of magnetization, and in turn for creation of complex optical spin distributions using magnetization patterns. The demonstrated interplay between photonic skyrmions and magneto-optical effects may also provide novel opportunities for investigation and manipulation of magnetic skyrmions using optical spin–orbit coupling.
Highlights
Magnetic materials and their nanostructures can influence the polarization state of light upon reflection or transmission due to the Kerr or Faraday effects, respectively, and widely used in photonics for polarization rotators and optical isolators
By examining the electromagnetic field in a magneto-plasmonic system, we demonstrate that a photonic skyrmion, which is formed by the spin–orbit coupling in evanescent vortex beam, is modulated in the presence of the MO response as the orientation of magnetization changes
We have demonstrated and investigated the optical spin– orbit coupling in the presence of magnetization, as well as the interaction between photonic skyrmions and magnetic domains
Summary
Magnetic materials and their nanostructures can influence the polarization state of light upon reflection or transmission due to the Kerr or Faraday effects, respectively, and widely used in photonics for polarization rotators and optical isolators. Spin angular momentum (SAM), which is related to circular polarization of light, and orbital angular momentum (OAM) are intrinsic properties of light waves and play a critical role in light–matter interactions [20,21,22,23] This dynamic mutual conversion between SAM and OAM is enhanced on the nanoscale [24,25,26] and manifests itself in numerous unusual physical phenomena, such photonic analogue of the quantum spin Hall effect [27, 28], unidirectional coupling to the guided modes [29], chiral detection [30], lateral optical forces [31], as well as photonic topological insulators [32], many of which rely on the transverse spin carrying by the evanescent field of. By examining the electromagnetic field in a magneto-plasmonic system, we demonstrate that a photonic skyrmion, which is formed by the spin–orbit coupling in evanescent vortex beam, is modulated in the presence of the MO response as the orientation of magnetization changes This provides an opportunity for the visualization of a magnetic domain structure by observing the spin states of the skyrmion. The results provide new understanding of optical spin and magnetization interactions and offer novel opportunities for study and manipulation of magnetic structures, including magnetic skyrmions, using optical spin–orbit coupling
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