Roadmap on multimode light shaping

Our ability to generate new distributions of light has been remarkably enhanced in recent years. At the most fundamental level, these light patterns are obtained by ingeniously combining different electromagnetic modes. Interestingly, the modal superposition occurs in the spatial, temporal as well as spatio-temporal domain. This generalized concept of structured light is being applied across the entire spectrum of optics: generating classical and quantum states of light, harnessing linear and nonlinear light-matter interactions, and advancing applications in microscopy, spectroscopy, holography, communication, and synchronization. This Roadmap highlights the common roots of these different techniques and thus establishes links between research areas that complement each other seamlessly. We provide an overview of all these areas, their backgrounds, current research, and future developments. We highlight the power of multimodal light manipulation and want to inspire new eclectic approaches in this vibrant research community.

Automated summary

Our ability to manipulate light patterns by combining different electromagnetic modes has significantly improved in recent years. This concept of structured light is being applied across various fields of optics, enabling the generation of classical and quantum states of light, utilization of linear and nonlinear light-matter interactions, and advancements in microscopy, spectroscopy, holography, communication, and synchronization. This Roadmap provides an overview of these areas, their current research, and future developments, emphasizing the power of multimodal light manipulation to inspire new approaches in this vibrant research community.