In a groundbreaking study recently published in Nature Communications, physicists from Singapore and the UK have unveiled the optical analog of the Kármán vortex street (KVS), shedding light on the intricate connection between fluid dynamics and the energy flow of structured light. This optical KVS pulse, as highlighted in the study, demonstrates intriguing parallels between fluid transport phenomena and the propagation of light pulses.
Lead author of the study, Yijie Shen of Nanyang Technological University, introduces a novel type of light pulse with a field structure reminiscent of a von Kármán vortex street. This vortex street pattern, commonly observed in fluid dynamics, is responsible for the unique phenomenon known as the ‘singing’ of suspended telephone lines in windy conditions. The structured light proposed in the study displays a robust topological structure of skyrmions in condensed matter, paving the way for innovative applications in various fields.
Unlike previous research on optical skyrmionic beams and pulses, the skyrmionic field configuration in nondiffracting supertoroidal pulses (NDSTPs) overcomes diffraction limitations and maintains stability over long propagation distances. This breakthrough opens doors to potential applications in areas such as light-matter interactions, super resolution microscopy, and metrology, revolutionizing the way we approach optical technology.
Skyrmions, intricate topological particles initially proposed by Tony Skyrme in 1962, exhibit behavior akin to nanoscale magnetic vortices with complex textures. While previously known optical skyrmions in free space quickly collapse or remain stationary, the newly developed light pulses retain their structure during propagation. This feature enables the study of electromagnetic skyrmionic fields’ dynamics and offers exciting prospects for directed energy channels in information transfer applications.
The study authors anticipate that the deeply subwavelength singularities present in these pulses could find application in metrology and spectroscopy, particularly in studying toroidal excitations in matter. Moreover, leveraging the topological characteristics of these pulses for long-distance information transfer opens avenues for telecommunications, remote sensing, and LiDAR technologies. The study underscores the potential impact of optical analogs of the Kármán vortex street in advancing various scientific and technological domains.
The Kármán vortex street, a classical flow pattern characterized by swirling vortices, has long captivated researchers and artists alike for its aesthetic beauty and power. Notably, the depiction of interlaced vortices in historical artwork and the engineering failure of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 due to vortex-induced vibrations underscore the profound impact of KVS on scientific research and real-world applications.
The study’s revelations on the optical analog of the Kármán vortex street and its implications for structured light provide a unique perspective on the intersection of physics, optics, and fluid dynamics. By bridging the gap between traditional fluid dynamics concepts and cutting-edge optical technologies, this research opens new avenues for exploration and innovation in the field of photonics and beyond.
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