Selective generation of generalized optical skyrmions

Optical skyrmions, a type of topologically protected quasiparticle, have undergone various deformations in recent years. In this Letter, we present a scheme that can achieve the selective formation of generalized optical skyrmions. In our proposal, a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator and a variable liquid-crystal retarder, both of which are commonly programmable devices, are employed, allowing for the on-demand precise manipulation of topological textures of various quasiparticles including but not limited to skyrmions, antiskyrmions, and bimerons. The proof-of-concept experiments illustrate that generalized optical skyrmions whose skyrmion number up to 5 can be well generated with on-demand tailored topological textures. While maintaining a simple setup, the system demonstrates a notable capacity for the manipulation of intricate high-order textures, signifying its considerable potential for extensive and sophisticated applications in the generation and manipulation of skyrmions.