Stokes and skyrmion tensors and their application to structured light
Abstract
We replace the familiar Stokes vector by a tensor. This allows us to introduce, for example, polar-coordinate components of the Stokes vector. From the tensor, we can derive the skyrmion field for mapping the polarization in structured light beams. These ideas have wider application in optics and in electromagnetic theory. We illustrate this with an example from non-paraxial optics and for the Poynting vector.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry
Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of the Optical Society of America A
- Publisher
- Optica Publishing Group
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- B55–B55
- Publication date
- 23 February 2026
- Language
- EN