Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2512.20378 · Physical Review A

Storage and retrieval of optical skyrmions with topological characteristics

Jinwen Wang, Xin Yang, Yun Chen, Zhujun Ye, Xinji Zeng, Yongkun Zhou, Shuya Zhang, Claire Marie Cisowski, Chengyuan Wang, Katsuya Inoue, Yijie Shen, Sonja Franke-Arnold, Hong Gao

quant-phphysics.atom-phphysics.opticsSubmitted Dec 23, 2025• Announced Dec 24, 2025• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Optical skyrmions are topological structures of light whose defining property, the skyrmion number, is robust against perturbations. This makes them attractive for applications in quantum information storage, where resilience to decoherence is paramount. However, their preservation during coherent storage remains unexplored. We report the first experimental demonstration of storing and retrieving optical skyrmions in a cold $^{87}$Rb vapor using a dual-path electromagnetically induced transparency memory. Crucially, we show that the skyrmion number remains invariant for storage times up to several microseconds, even when subjected to imbalanced loss between the two paths and substantial perturbations in control beam power. Our work demonstrates the survival of a non-trivial topological invariant in a quantum memory, marking a significant step towards topologically protected photonic technologies.

DOI
10.1103/44mz-k83h

Related papers

A decoherence resilient quantum memory for topological quantum skyrmions

Hong Gao, Chengyuan Wang, Yongkun Zhou +10 more

Abstract Quantum skyrmions as topologically structured quantum photonic states are promising candidates for enabling robust quantum information processing in real-world environments where entanglement is fragile. The state-of-the-art allows their creation as single photon and entangled states, but their storage in a quantum memory is crucial to realise real applications, e.g., quantum repeaters for quantum networks as well as gates and synchronisation for quantum computers. Here we demonstrate the first entanglement mediated quantum memory of quantum skyrmions in cold atomic ensembles. To achieve this, we produce the first narrow-band quantum skyrmions from spontaneous four‑wave mixing, yielding a sub‑natural linewidth compatible with atomic transitions. We then store the spatially encoded photon (one of the entangled pair) in an electromagnetically induced transparency memory, subjecting it to light‑matter interaction and decoherence while its entangled partner remains free, thus demonstrating the first storage and retrieval of quantum topology. Crucially, we observe that the Skyrme number remains resilient even as entanglement decays under storage noise, demonstrating the inherent topological robustness of the non‑local state. Our work establishes cold atomic ensembles as an integrated platform for quantum topological photonics, combining narrowband entanglement generation, reconfigurable topological engineering, and coherent quantum storage. These results bridge structured light, quantum information, and topological physics, and open pathways toward topologically protected quantum repeaters and noise-resilient quantum networks, where topology itself acts as a resource for preserving quantum information.

•Mar 20, 2026•0 citations

Topological preservation of quantum skyrmions in perturbed biphoton channels

Xi Xie, Pei Zhang, Yijie Shen

Skyrmionic topologies offer a promising strategy for encoding optical information in robust topological quantities against perturbations and have been demonstrated in free-space quantum systems. Here, we construct non-local skyrmions in a biphoton spin–orbit entangled system and experimentally investigate the preservation of their skyrmion number under controlled channel perturbations. Using a homotopy-based characterization, we describe the tested spatial and polarization perturbations through an effective position-dependent polarization channel framework conditioned on projection into the detected subspace. We examine representative ordered and disordered optical perturbations, implemented as amplitude obstacles and phase turbulence. The results show that the skyrmion number remains nearly invariant despite entanglement degradation, revealing the resilience of non-local quantum topology against optical perturbations.

Advanced Photonics•Sep 24, 2026•0 citations

Topological robustness of classical and quantum optical skyrmions in atmospheric turbulence

Zhenyu Guo, Cade Peters, Nilo Mata-Cervera +5 more

Abstract The degradation of classical and quantum structured light induced by complex media constitutes a critical barrier to its practical implementation in a range of applications, from communication and energy transport to imaging and sensing. Atmospheric turbulence is an exemplary case due to its complex phase structure and dynamic variations, driving the need to fnd invariances in light. Here we construct classical and quantum optical skyrmions and pass them through experimentally simulated atmospheric turbulence, revealing the embedded topological resilience of their structure. In the quantum realm, we show that while skyrmions undergo diminished entanglement, their topological characteristics maintain stable. This is paralleled classically, where the vectorial structure is scrambled by the medium yet the skyrmion remains stable by virtue of its intrinsic topological protection mechanism. Our experimental results are supported by rigorous analytical and numerical modelling, validating that the quantum-classical equivalence of the topological behaviour is due to the non-separability of the states and one-sided nature of the channel. Our work blurs the classical-quantum divide in the context of topology and opens a new path to information resilience in noisy channels, such as terrestrial and satellite-to-ground communication networks.

arXiv:2509.05727•Nature Communications•Jan 27, 2026•36 citations

Single-photon-level quantum image memory based on cold atomic ensembles

Dong-Sheng Ding, Zhi‐Yuan Zhou, Bao‐Sen Shi +1 more

A quantum memory is a key component for quantum networks, which will enable the distribution of quantum information. Its successful development requires storage of single-photon light. Encoding photons with spatial shape through higher-dimensional states significantly increases their information-carrying capability and network capacity. However, constructing such quantum memories is challenging. Here we report the first experimental realization of a true single-photon-carrying orbital angular momentum stored via electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold atomic ensemble. Our experiments show that the non-classical pair correlation between trigger photon and retrieved photon is retained, and the spatial structure of input and retrieved photons exhibits strong similarity. More importantly, we demonstrate that single-photon coherence is preserved during storage. The ability to store spatial structure at the single-photon level opens the possibility for high-dimensional quantum memories. Photonic quantum memories are necessary for quantum information networks and can be built using cold atomic gases. In this work, Ding et al. show the first storage and retrieval of single photons carrying orbital angular momentum using electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold rubidium ensemble.

arXiv:1305.2675•Nature Communications•Oct 2, 2013•224 citations

Broadband coherent optical memory based on electromagnetically induced transparency

Yan-Cheng Wei, Bo‐Han Wu, Ya-Fen Hsiao +2 more

Quantum memories, devices that can store and retrieve photonic quantum states on demand, are essential components for scalable quantum technologies. It is desirable to push the memory towards the broadband regime in order to increase the data rate. Here, we present a theoretical and experimental study of broadband optical memory based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) protocol. We first provide a theoretical analysis of the issues and requirements needed to achieve broadband EIT memory. We then present our experimental efforts for the movement of EIT memory in cold atoms towards the broadband or short-pulse regime. A storage efficiency of $\ensuremath{\sim}80%$ with a pulse duration of 30 ns (corresponding to a bandwidth of 14.7 MHz) is realized. Due to limitations of the available intensity of the control beam, we could not achieve an optimal storage for the even shorter pulses but were still able to obtain an efficiency of greater than $50%$ with a pulse duration of 14 ns (31.4 MHz). The time-bandwidth product achieved at an efficiency of $50%$ is 1267(89).

arXiv:2003.00945•Physical Review A•Dec 24, 2020•28 citations

Topological Stability of Stored Optical Vortices

Rami Pugatch, M. Shuker, Ofer Firstenberg +2 more

We report an experiment in which an optical vortex is stored in a vapor of Rb atoms. Because of its 2pi phase twist, this mode, also known as the Laguerre-Gauss mode, is topologically stable and cannot unwind even under conditions of strong diffusion. For comparison, we stored a Gaussian beam with a dark center and a uniform phase. Contrary to the optical vortex, which stays stable for over 100 micros, the dark center in the retrieved flat-phased image was filled with light after a storage time as short as 10 micros. The experiment proves that higher electromagnetic modes can be converted into atomic coherences and that modes with phase singularities are robust to decoherence effects such as diffusion. This opens the possibility to more elaborate schemes for classical and quantum information storage in atomic vapors.

arXiv:quant-ph/0701132•Physical Review Letters•May 14, 2007•199 citations
Optical skyrmions are topological structures of light whose defining property, the skyrmion number, is robust against perturbations. This makes them attractive for applications in quantum information storage, where resilience to decoherence is paramount. However, their preservation during coherent storage remains unexplored. We report the first experimental demonstration of storing and retrieving optical skyrmions in a cold 87^{87}87Rb vapor using a dual-path electromagnetically induced transparency memory. Crucially, we show that the skyrmion number remains invariant for storage times up to several microseconds, even when subjected to imbalanced loss between the two paths and substantial perturbations in control beam power. Our work demonstrates the survival of a non-trivial topological invariant in a quantum memory, marking a significant step towards topologically protected photonic technologies.
Abstract Quantum skyrmions as topologically structured quantum photonic states are promising candidates for enabling robust quantum information processing in real-world environments where entanglement is fragile. The state-of-the-art allows their creation as single photon and entangled states, but their storage in a quantum memory is crucial to realise real applications, e.g., quantum repeaters for quantum networks as well as gates and synchronisation for quantum computers. Here we demonstrate the first entanglement mediated quantum memory of quantum skyrmions in cold atomic ensembles. To achieve this, we produce the first narrow-band quantum skyrmions from spontaneous four‑wave mixing, yielding a sub‑natural linewidth compatible with atomic transitions. We then store the spatially encoded photon (one of the entangled pair) in an electromagnetically induced transparency memory, subjecting it to light‑matter interaction and decoherence while its entangled partner remains free, thus demonstrating the first storage and retrieval of quantum topology. Crucially, we observe that the Skyrme number remains resilient even as entanglement decays under storage noise, demonstrating the inherent topological robustness of the non‑local state. Our work establishes cold atomic ensembles as an integrated platform for quantum topological photonics, combining narrowband entanglement generation, reconfigurable topological engineering, and coherent quantum storage. These results bridge structured light, quantum information, and topological physics, and open pathways toward topologically protected quantum repeaters and noise-resilient quantum networks, where topology itself acts as a resource for preserving quantum information.
Skyrmionic topologies offer a promising strategy for encoding optical information in robust topological quantities against perturbations and have been demonstrated in free-space quantum systems. Here, we construct non-local skyrmions in a biphoton spin–orbit entangled system and experimentally investigate the preservation of their skyrmion number under controlled channel perturbations. Using a homotopy-based characterization, we describe the tested spatial and polarization perturbations through an effective position-dependent polarization channel framework conditioned on projection into the detected subspace. We examine representative ordered and disordered optical perturbations, implemented as amplitude obstacles and phase turbulence. The results show that the skyrmion number remains nearly invariant despite entanglement degradation, revealing the resilience of non-local quantum topology against optical perturbations.
Abstract The degradation of classical and quantum structured light induced by complex media constitutes a critical barrier to its practical implementation in a range of applications, from communication and energy transport to imaging and sensing. Atmospheric turbulence is an exemplary case due to its complex phase structure and dynamic variations, driving the need to fnd invariances in light. Here we construct classical and quantum optical skyrmions and pass them through experimentally simulated atmospheric turbulence, revealing the embedded topological resilience of their structure. In the quantum realm, we show that while skyrmions undergo diminished entanglement, their topological characteristics maintain stable. This is paralleled classically, where the vectorial structure is scrambled by the medium yet the skyrmion remains stable by virtue of its intrinsic topological protection mechanism. Our experimental results are supported by rigorous analytical and numerical modelling, validating that the quantum-classical equivalence of the topological behaviour is due to the non-separability of the states and one-sided nature of the channel. Our work blurs the classical-quantum divide in the context of topology and opens a new path to information resilience in noisy channels, such as terrestrial and satellite-to-ground communication networks.
A quantum memory is a key component for quantum networks, which will enable the distribution of quantum information. Its successful development requires storage of single-photon light. Encoding photons with spatial shape through higher-dimensional states significantly increases their information-carrying capability and network capacity. However, constructing such quantum memories is challenging. Here we report the first experimental realization of a true single-photon-carrying orbital angular momentum stored via electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold atomic ensemble. Our experiments show that the non-classical pair correlation between trigger photon and retrieved photon is retained, and the spatial structure of input and retrieved photons exhibits strong similarity. More importantly, we demonstrate that single-photon coherence is preserved during storage. The ability to store spatial structure at the single-photon level opens the possibility for high-dimensional quantum memories. Photonic quantum memories are necessary for quantum information networks and can be built using cold atomic gases. In this work, Ding et al. show the first storage and retrieval of single photons carrying orbital angular momentum using electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold rubidium ensemble.
Quantum memories, devices that can store and retrieve photonic quantum states on demand, are essential components for scalable quantum technologies. It is desirable to push the memory towards the broadband regime in order to increase the data rate. Here, we present a theoretical and experimental study of broadband optical memory based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) protocol. We first provide a theoretical analysis of the issues and requirements needed to achieve broadband EIT memory. We then present our experimental efforts for the movement of EIT memory in cold atoms towards the broadband or short-pulse regime. A storage efficiency of $\ensuremath{\sim}80%$ with a pulse duration of 30 ns (corresponding to a bandwidth of 14.7 MHz) is realized. Due to limitations of the available intensity of the control beam, we could not achieve an optimal storage for the even shorter pulses but were still able to obtain an efficiency of greater than 5050%50 with a pulse duration of 14 ns (31.4 MHz). The time-bandwidth product achieved at an efficiency of 5050%50 is 1267(89).
We report an experiment in which an optical vortex is stored in a vapor of Rb atoms. Because of its 2pi phase twist, this mode, also known as the Laguerre-Gauss mode, is topologically stable and cannot unwind even under conditions of strong diffusion. For comparison, we stored a Gaussian beam with a dark center and a uniform phase. Contrary to the optical vortex, which stays stable for over 100 micros, the dark center in the retrieved flat-phased image was filled with light after a storage time as short as 10 micros. The experiment proves that higher electromagnetic modes can be converted into atomic coherences and that modes with phase singularities are robust to decoherence effects such as diffusion. This opens the possibility to more elaborate schemes for classical and quantum information storage in atomic vapors.