Structured Light from Classical to Quantum Perspectives

Abstract

Most optical phenomena result from the interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter. However, the light structure can be eminently more complex than plane waves, with many degrees of freedom and dimensions involved, yielding intricate configurations. Light transcends the conventional landscape of electromagnetism, offering the possibility to tailor light in three dimensions (intermixing all three electric field components), in four-dimensional spacetime (for fields manifesting both temporal and spatial patterns), and, beyond that, to make structured quantum light, tuning its characteristics at an unprecedented new level of control. This article addresses the physical foundations of structured light, its interactions with matter, including the nonlinear regime and probing chirality, its classical benefits with holography as a specific highlight, and quantum mechanical applications. It describes the various applications connecting structured light with material physics, quantum information, and technology. Notably, we discuss weak measurements with structured light acting as the meter with connections to probing structured-light beam shifts at interfaces. Ultimately, revealing the interplay between structured light and matter opens attractive avenues for different new technologies and applications, covering both the classical and the quantum realms.