Optical vortex lasers [Invited]

Jian Wang , Zhenyu Wan , Kang Li

Optics Express +

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June 14, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Optical vortex lasers directly emit customized beams with phase or polarization singularities. This review covers their design, types, and applications in optics and photonics.

Area Of Science

Optics and Photonics
Laser Physics
Structured Light

Background

Light field manipulation is crucial for communications, imaging, and metrology.
Optical vortices, beams with phase singularities, are key to advanced optical techniques.
Optical vortex lasers offer direct generation of tailored beams.

Purpose Of The Study

To provide a comprehensive overview of optical vortex lasers.
To summarize recent advancements in their design, types, and applications.
To highlight future directions and challenges in the field.

Main Methods

Review of existing literature on optical vortex lasers.
Categorization of design methods: bulk, fiber, and on-chip lasers.
Exploration of higher-dimensional optical vortex lasers for complex beam shaping.

Main Results

Optical vortex lasers are classified by their design and emission characteristics.
Diverse applications span communications, trapping, metrology, and imaging.
Progress towards higher-dimensional and on-chip implementations is noted.

Conclusions

Optical vortex lasers are versatile tools for generating structured light.
Continued research promises enhanced capabilities and novel applications.
This review serves as a guide for researchers in physics, optics, and engineering.