Phys.org August 14, 2024
Toroidal electromagnetic pulses have been recently reported as non-transverse, space-time non-separable topological excitations of free space. However, their propagation dynamics and topological configurations have not been comprehensively experimentally characterized. The existing generators were limited in optical and terahertz domains; however, the feasibility and significance of generating such pulses at microwave frequencies have been overlooked. An international team of researchers (USA – Illinois Institute of Technology, China, Singapore) found that microwave toroidal pulses could be launched by a transient finite-aperture broadband horn antenna emitter, as an electromagnetic counterpart of “air vortex cannon.” Using this generator, they experimentally mapped the toroidal pulses’ topological skyrmionic textures in free space and demonstrated their resilient propagation dynamics. According to the researchers their work offers a practical opportunity for using topologically robust toroidal pulses as information carriers in high-capacity telecom, cell phone technology, remote sensing, and global positioning, especially where microwave frequencies are predominant… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
The electromagnetic system also demonstrates self- resilience properties and skyrmion topology…
Credit: Advanced Materials, Volume36, Issue 21, May 23, 2024, 2470162