Vector beams excited nonlinear optical effects

Abstract

Vector beams with the desired polarization structure interacting with matter result in many novel nonlinear optical effects. Herein, we review the tight focusing and weak focusing properties of three types of light beams, namely, linearly polarized beams, cylindrical vector beams, and hybridly polarized beams. In particular, we revisit the second- and third-order nonlinear optical effects in nonlinear optical media under the excitation of several types of vector beams with the desired polarization distribution. The prospects of their applications in nonlinear optical microscopy and materials characterization are also briefly discussed.