软光子拓扑结构的研究进展

Overview of soft-photonic topological structures

将拓扑引入液晶微纳光子系统而形成的新颖构态被称为软光子拓扑结构。液晶作为一种各向异性的软物质,为不同维度的拓扑结构构筑提供了良好的载体平台。液晶独特的光电特性使得拓扑结构成为一种可光学观测、可空间重构以及可微观操纵的准粒子。随着相关研究的深入,液晶软光子拓扑结构的制备方法不断完善,结构的精密度不断提高,拓扑特征数不断完备,各种潜在应用被逐步挖掘出来,例如光孤子调控、光子信息集成、光控粒子运动等。本综述将从同伦理论出发,介绍并演绎如何在液晶中构筑两种不同类型的拓扑结构以及相应的动态调控模式。接着围绕拓扑结构在软物质液晶中的独特性,论述液晶拓扑构态如何渗透在不同的科学研究领域中以及其突出应用。最后总结并展望软光子拓扑结构的未来更多可能的操纵方式与构筑体系。

The distinct states formed by introducing topology into liquid crystal micro-nano photonic systems are referred to as soft-photonic topological structures.Liquid crystals,as an anisotropic soft material,provide an excellent landscape for constructing topological structures in various dimensions.The unique optoelectronic properties of liquid crystals allow topological structures,functioned as quasi-particles,to be optically observed,spatially reconstructed,and microscopically manipulated.With ongoing research,the methods for fabricating soft-photonic topological structures in liquid crystals are continuously improving,with increasing precision,completeness of topological characteristic number,and more potential applications,such as optical soliton control,light information integration,and light-controlled particle motion.This review starts from homotopy theory,introducing and illustrating how to construct two distinct types of topological bodies in liquid crystals and their corresponding dynamic control as response to external stimulus.It then discusses the uniqueness of topological structures in soft liquid crystals,exploring how liquid crystal topological motifs permeate various research fields and their notable applications.Finally,the review gives a summary as well as a brief discussion on future possibilities for unusual manipulating and more complex system for constructing the topological motifs.