Topological robustness of classical and quantum optical skyrmions in atmospheric turbulence

Guo, Zhenyu; Peters, Cade; Mata-Cervera, Nilo; Vetlugin, Anton N.; Guo, Ruixiang; Zhang, Pei; Forbes, Andrew; Shen, Yijie

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-68751-3

articleNature CommunicationsJan 27, 2026GOLD OA

Topological robustness of classical and quantum optical skyrmions in atmospheric turbulence

ZGZhenyu Guo CPCade Peters NMNilo Mata-Cervera ANAnton N. Vetlugin RGRuixiang Guo

Nanyang Technological University · University of the Witwatersrand · +2 more institutions

PubMed

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Abstract

The degradation of classical and quantum structured light induced by complex media, such as atmospheric turbulence, constitutes a critical barrier to its practical implementation in communication, energy transport, imaging and sensing. Here we construct both classical and quantum optical skyrmions and transmit them through experimentally simulated atmospheric turbulence, revealing the embedded topological resilience of their structure. For nonlocal quantum skyrmions, we show that although photon entanglement rapidly degrades, the topological characteristics of the states remain stable. Similarly, while the vectorial structure of local classical skyrmions is strongly distorted by the medium, their topology is…

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Topics

Keywords

Topology (electrical circuits)
Quantum entanglement
Skyrmion
Atmospheric turbulence
Quantum
Robustness (evolution)
Topological quantum number
Equivalence (formal languages)

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