Twist of generalized skyrmions and spin vortices in a polariton superfluid

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of spin vortices and skyrmions in a polariton superfluid, revealing how polarization anisotropy causes their complex twisting dynamics, supported by a theoretical framework of generalized quantum vortices.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of generalized quantum vortices in two-component superfluids and demonstrates their complex dynamics due to polarization anisotropy in polariton condensates.

Findings

Polarization anisotropy induces twisting of topological structures.

Theoretical model describes generalized quantum vortices.

Experimental observations confirm complex vortex dynamics.

Abstract

We study the spin vortices and skyrmions coherently imprinted into an exciton-polariton condensate on a planar semiconductor microcavity. We demonstrate that the presence of a polarization anisotropy can induce a complex dynamics of these structured topologies, leading to the twist of their circuitation on the Poincar\'e sphere of polarizations. The theoretical description of the results carries the concept of generalized quantum vortices in two-component superfluids, which are conformal with polarization loops around an arbitrary axis in the pseudospin space.