Topologically robust programmable processing arrays using light and matter skyrmions

Abstract

Abstract Photonic computing offers a low-power, high-bandwidth paradigm for information processing; however, the analog nature of conventional architectures means that intrinsic noise and fabrication imperfections greatly impact performance, thereby severely limiting scalability. Recent work on optical skyrmions offers a route to overcoming these limitations by exploiting perturbation-resilient topological invariants of the optical field for computation. Crucially, owing to its relative novelty, an architectural perspective on integrating individual components that manipulate topological charge into a functional system remains an important open challenge. In this paper, we take concrete steps toward system-level design by introducing a platform-independent architecture for skyrmion-based processing, built around a modular library of topologically robust optical primitives, including generators, converters, registers, and adders. This framework enables the synthesis and arithmetic manipulation of topological numbers within a unified programmable architecture. We then experimentally validate this approach using multichannel arrays, demonstrating accurate charge readout and robustness against perturbations in practical optical systems. These results provide a scalable foundation for topologically robust programmable processing arrays, paving the way for compact and integrated photonic processing circuits.