review · Light Science & Applications
Optical metrology has traditionally relied on the linear momentum of light, but the adoption of structured vortex light carrying orbital angular momentum is transforming the field. Vortex beams feature a helical phase twisting around a singular vortex, introducing additional degrees of freedom for high-precision probing. These properties allow for sensitive detection of chiral interactions between light and matter, three-dimensional motion tracking through combined linear and rotational Doppler shifts, and modal profiling methods capable of exceeding conventional resolution limits. Furthermore, combining vortex light with artificial intelligence introduces new frameworks that improve measurement accuracy and efficiency. This shift represents a transition from traditional optical sensing approaches toward advanced classical and quantum metrology and remote sensing configurations.
Accurate optical sensing is fundamental to numerous scientific and industrial processes. By twisting light into vortices, measurement tools can detect minute structural details, complex motion, and chemical chirality that standard optical techniques miss. Integrating these structured beams with artificial intelligence enables faster, more sensitive profiling, improving capabilities in remote sensing and physical diagnostics.
The techniques discussed could enhance remote sensing, motion tracking instrumentation, and chiral bio-sensing devices used in material and biological analysis. Target users include optical instrument manufacturers, analytical laboratories, and remote sensing developers. Because the abstract outlines a review of recent advances transitioning from classical to quantum concepts alongside artificial intelligence integration, the technology represents early-stage to applied exploratory research rather than ready-to-deploy market products.
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Optical metrology is a well-established subject, dating back to early interferometry techniques utilizing light's linear momentum through fringes. In recent years, significant interest has arisen in using vortex light with orbital angular momentum (OAM), where the phase twists around a singular vortex in space or time. This has expanded metrology's boundaries to encompass highly sensitive chiral interactions between light and matter, three-dimensional motion detection via linear and rotational Doppler effects, and modal approaches surpassing the resolution limit for improved profiling and quantification. The intricate structure of vortex light, combined with the integration of artificial intelligence into optical metrology, unlocks new paradigms for expanding measurement frameworks through additional degrees of freedom, offering the potential for more efficient and accurate sensing and metrological advancements. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances and future trends in optical metrology with structured light, specifically focusing on how utilizing vortex beams has revolutionized metrology and remote sensing, transitioning from classical to quantum approaches.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01665-1
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