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Meron Spin Textures in Momentum Space Spawning from Bound States in the Continuum

Lixi Rao1, Jiajun Wang1,*, Xinhao Wang1, Shunben Wu1, Xingqi Zhao1, Wenzhe Liu1,2, Rensheng Xie5,6, Yijie Shen5,6,†, Lei Shi1,2,3,4,‡ et al.

Jian Zi1,2,3,4,§

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro- and Nano-Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • 2Institute for Nanoelectronic Devices and Quantum Computing, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
  • 3Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • 4Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai 201315, China
  • 5Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
  • 6School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore

  • *Contact author: jiajunwang@fudan.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: yijie.shen@ntu.edu.sg
  • ‡Contact author: lshi@fudan.edu.cn
  • §Contact author: jzi@fudan.edu.cn

Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 026203 – Published 10 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3g3j-mnh9

Abstract

Topological spin textures, such as merons and skyrmions, have shown significance in both fundamental science and practical applications across diverse physical systems. The optical skyrmionic textures in real space have been extensively explored, but those in momentum space are still rarely studied. Here, we report the experimental generation of momentum-space meron spin textures via bound states in the continuum (BICs) in photonic crystal slabs. We show that under circularly polarized illumination, the momentum-space vortex topology of BICs can transform light with meron spin textures in momentum space. These merons exhibit polarity-switchable configurations controlled by incident light polarization. We theoretically and experimentally verify the generation of momentum-space merons and demonstrate their operational flexibility across a broad spectral range. Our results establish a connection between different momentum-space topologies and provide a robust and compact platform for generating topological spin textures.

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

synopsis

Photonic Spin Textures

Published 10 July, 2025

An arrangement of spins known as a meron turns out to be easier to make in momentum space than in real space.

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