Robustness of space-time skyrmion topology in channels beyond free space

Determine whether space-time skyrmion topologies remain robust when propagated through complex channels beyond free space, including channels that perturb the wave structure in ways not represented by the spatial random media investigated in the paper.

Background

The paper experimentally demonstrates preservation of the skyrmion number for topological spatiotemporal vector beams transmitted through selected random spatial phase-and-amplitude distortion masks. This establishes robustness only for the specific class and range of spatial perturbations tested. The authors explicitly identify the broader question of whether analogous robustness persists for space-time skyrmion topologies in channels beyond free-space propagation as unresolved. This is relevant to determining whether topological space-time modes can support reliable information transmission through more general complex media.

References

While the robustness of many spatial Stokes skyrmions through select channels has been recently been demonstrated , no tests have yet been performed to see if similar robustness persists for space-time skyrmion topologies for channels beyond free-space .

— Topological space-time waves in complex channels  (2608.22848 - Zou et al., 24 Aug 2026) in Section “Topological STVBs in random media”