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Ultrafast physics with structured light
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DOI：10.1038/s42254-025-00887-5.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Laser-excited electron motions allow the investigation of fundamental physical phenomena with unprecedented resolution in time, space and energy. The first step in most interactions between light and matter is the ultrafast response of electrons to impinging light, in which the electron dynamics is sensitive to the signatures of the driving light. As light can be tailored to carry custom angular momentum by imprinting it with characteristic structures of intensity, polarization or phase, the resulting structured light offers new opportunities to tailor and control the optical response of materials, far beyond the ability of conventional linearly or circularly polarized light. In this Review, we discuss recent progress at the intersection of the structured light and ultrafast physics communities alongside the underlying physics. Beyond these interesting fundamental considerations, we highlight the broad applications of structured light for investigating and controlling the dynamics of bound and free electrons, as well as extreme ultraviolet radiation, including in strong-field ionization, high harmonic generation and free-electron optical modulation. Spatiotemporal structuring of optical fields offers opportunities to probe and control electron motions in light–matter interactions. This Review discusses the recent advances in both fundamental physics and practical applications in ultrafast physics that involve structured light.
Keywords:
structured light
ultrafast physics
electron dynamics
light-matter interactions
spatiotemporal control