Structured light at the extreme: harnessing spatiotemporal control for high-field laser–matter interactions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We chart the emerging paradigm of intelligent structured light for high-field laser–matter interactions, where the precise spatiotemporal and vectorial control of light is a critical degree of freedom. We outline a transformative framework built upon three synergistic pillars. First, we survey the advanced electromagnetic toolkit, moving beyond conventional spatial light modulators to include robust static optics and the promising frontier of plasma light modulators. Second, we detail the optimization engine for this high-dimensional design space, focusing on physics-informed digital twins and artificial intelligence–driven inverse design to automate the discovery of optimal light structures. Finally, we explore the groundbreaking applications enabled by this integrated approach, including programmable electron beams, orbital-angular-momentum-carrying γ-rays, compact THz accelerators, and robust communications. The path forward necessitates overcoming grand challenges in material science, real-time adaptive control at MHz rates, and the extension of these principles to the quantum realm. This review serves as a call to action for a coordinated, interdisciplinary effort to command, rather than merely observe, light–matter interactions at the extreme.
Source: Advanced Photonics
Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Nanyang Technological University, University of Rochester, University of the Witwatersrand, Institute of Photonic Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Yale University, Beihang University
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: NEXT-GENERATION PHOTOINJECTORS FOR HIGH BRIGHTNESS BEAMS AND XFELS, G1243123360, Collaborative Research: MATH-DT: Mathematical Foundations of AI-assisted Digital Twins for High Power Laser Science and Engineering, G1561258537, G2371548206, G2992101077, G303061748, G4251578612, G4654690619, Wielding Coherent Quantum Electrodynamics for Attosecond X-ray Photonics, G5570207115, G6098521345, G7090116110, G7812139467, G7987444734, G876412869, G8876996369, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W7203711471