  We propose a microscopic mechanism for ultrafast skyrmion photo-excitation
via a two-orbital electronic model. In the strong correlation limit the
$d$-electrons are described by an effective spin Hamiltonian, coupled to
itinerant $s$-electrons via $s-d$ exchange. Laser-exciting the system by a
direct coupling to the electric charge leads to skyrmion nucleation on a 100 fs
timescale. The coupling between photo-induced electronic currents and magnetic
moments, mediated via Rashba spin-orbit interactions, is identified as the
microscopic mechanism behind the ultrafast optical skyrmion excitation.
