Observation of a Plasmonic Vortex Lattice Crystallization

The concept of the crystallization of a plasmonic vortex lattice (PVL), which is achieved through multiple beam interferences, has been experimentally demonstrated and theoretically investigated. The generation of these ordered sets involves the interference of six plasmonic sources with spin-dependent spiral phases that arise from the interaction between circularly polarized electromagnetic waves and chiral metallic structures. The described components are instrumental in vortex generation and lattice formation. We observed a gradual crystallization of PVL through a quantized process influenced by the array size and its topological properties. It is characterized by the order parameter that was defined in analogy to nematic crystals. We demonstrate the remarkable topological adaptability of the PVL lattices, along with their resilience to perturbations. This underscores their potential for diverse applications in optical communication and data storage.