Scientists Create Revolutionary Light Switches That Could Transform Wireless Communications
Unknown, Thursday, 5 February 2026.
Researchers have developed a breakthrough optical device that generates stable, donut-shaped light patterns called skyrmions for next-generation wireless systems. The technology uses a specially designed metasurface to switch between electric and magnetic light modes on demand, maintaining their shape even when disturbed. This innovation could dramatically improve terahertz communication networks by making wireless data transmission more resilient and reliable, representing a major leap forward in optical technology.
The Science Behind Optical Skyrmions
The breakthrough centers on optical skyrmions—stable, donut-shaped light patterns that maintain their structural integrity even when subjected to external disturbances [1]. These vortex-like electromagnetic structures are the optical equivalent of magnetic skyrmions found in condensed matter physics, characterized by their unique topological properties that make them inherently resistant to deformation [GPT]. The research team, led by Xueqian Zhang from Tianjin University and Yijie Shen from Nanyang Technological University, demonstrated on February 3, 2026, that they could generate and control both electric and magnetic variants of these optical skyrmions in free-space terahertz pulses [2].
Switching Mechanism and Control Systems
The switching capability represents a significant technological advancement, achieved through relatively simple optical components including half-wave plates and vortex half-wave retarders [2]. Jiaguang Han, the project leader from Tianjin University, noted that “by employing simple optical elements such as wave plates and vortex retarders to control the polarization pattern of the input laser, we are able to create a compact device that can actively switch between two distinct topological light states” [1][3][4]. The team validated their device’s performance using an ultrafast terahertz measurement setup, scanning the pulse across multiple positions and time points to confirm reliable switching capability and high mode purity [3][4].
Applications in Terahertz Communications
The practical implications for wireless communication systems are substantial, particularly in the terahertz frequency range where next-generation communication and sensing technologies are being developed [4]. Yijie Shen from Nanyang Technological University highlighted that “our results move the concept of switchable free-space skyrmions toward a controllable tool for robust information encoding” and noted that “this work could inspire more resilient approaches to terahertz wireless communication and light-based information processing” [1][3][4]. The researchers envision switching between skyrmion types at high rates to encode digital data, with the stable vortex-like structures offering enhanced resistance to interference compared to conventional wireless transmission methods [2].