Optical vortex arrays, with their unique wavefront structures, find extensive applications in fields such as optical communications, trapping, imaging, metrology, and quantum. The methods used to generate these vortex beam arrays are crucial for their applications. In this review, we begin with introducing the fundamental concepts of optical vortex beams. Subsequently, we present three methods for generating them, including diffractive optical elements, metasurfaces, and integrated optical devices. We then explore the applications of optical vortex beam arrays in five different domains. Finally, we conclude with a summary and outlook for the research on optical vortex beam arrays.

柱矢量光束因其独特的偏振分布特性而在光镊、高分辨率成像、遥感、等离子体聚焦等领域发挥着重要作用。为实现全光纤高功率柱矢量MOPA激光器，采用自主设计基于集成超表面的模式转换光纤器件，进行了理论分析与实验验证。自主设计集成超表面的模式转换光纤器件可直接稳定输出数瓦功率的径向偏振柱矢量种子光，且输出模式纯度可达95%以上。实验中通过降低弯曲损耗并对模式进行控制，获得了单级放大输出功率为52.2 W的径向偏振柱矢量光稳定输出，且模式光场分布在输出功率增加过程中并未出现明显变化。为进一步分析输出的模式特性，采用旋转检偏器的方法检测输出光的偏振特性及偏振纯度，并利用非相干模式叠加方法计算了输出的径向偏振柱矢量光的模式纯度。结果表明，集成超表面模式转换的全光纤柱矢量MOPA激光器在最大输出功率情况下，输出光的偏振纯度约为95.2%，模式纯度约为94%，验证了该全光纤方案的可行性。

立足于偏振态空域调控技术，矢量光束所特有的偏振态空间结构属性，使其在光学及其交叉学科领域表现出巨大的研究价值和应用潜力。以往的研究主要关注偏振态的横向空域调控，而纵向(传播)方向同样是重要的光场调控维度，偏振态纵向变化矢量光束的出现，拓展了矢量光束的调控维度，为光与物质的相互作用带来更多可能，引起了广泛关注。文中围绕着偏振态纵向空域调控技术的发展，介绍了基于纵向变化位相差和振幅差的偏振态纵向变化矢量光束生成理论，并总结归纳了利用相位调制和空间频谱滤波的两类实验生成方法。此外，文中还对偏振态纵向变化矢量光束目前存在的问题进行了讨论，并对其发展前景进行了展望。

We numerically demonstrate that the tight focusing of Bessel beams can generate focal fields with an ultra-long depth of focus (DOF). The ultra-long focal field can be controlled by appropriately regulating the order of the Bessel function and the polarization. An optical needle and an optical dark channel with nearly 100λ DOF are generated. The optical needle has a DOF of ∼104.9λ and a super-diffraction-limited focal spot with the size of 0.19λ2. The dark channel has a full-width at half-maximum of ∼0.346λ and a DOF of ∼103.8λ. Furthermore, the oscillating focal field with an ultra-long DOF can be also generated by merely changing the order of the input Bessel beam. Our results are expected to contribute to potential applications in optical tweezers, atom guidance and capture, and laser processing.

Noble metallic nanostructures with strong electric near-field enhancement can significantly improve nanoscale light–matter interactions and are critical for high-sensitivity surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Here, we use an azimuthal vector beam (AVB) to illuminate the plasmonic tips circular cluster (PTCC) array to enhance the electric near-field intensity of the PTCC array, and then use it to improve SERS sensitivity. The PTCC array was prepared based on the self-assembled and inductive coupled plasmon (ICP) etching methods. The calculation results show that, compared with the linearly polarized beam (LPB) and radial vector beam excitations, the AVB excitation can obtain stronger electric near-field enhancement due to the strong resonant responses formed in the nanogap between adjacent plasmonic tips. Subsequently, our experimental results proved that AVB excitation increased SERS sensitivity to 10^-13 mol/L, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of LPB excitation. Meanwhile, the PTCC array had excellent uniformity with the Raman enhancement factor calculated to be ∼2.4×108. This kind of vector light field enhancing Raman spectroscopy may be applied in the field of sensing technologies, such as the trace amount detection.

偏振在光与物质相互作用中扮演着重要的角色。过去几十年里，绝大多数研究工作都基于偏振单一且均匀分布的标量光场。近年来，随着光场产生与操控技术的不断发展，空间偏振非均匀分布的矢量光场逐渐引起人们的关注。矢量光场具有多维可调控的自由度以及独特的焦场属性，在经典与量子通讯、光学操控和显微成像等领域具有重要的研究价值与广泛的应用前景。矢量光场与物质相互作用的研究不仅丰富了人们对光场矢量特性的认识，也推动了基于不同介质实现光场调控的新发展。原子介质对光场偏振具有较高的敏感性，容易形成原子极化，并且具有更多的调控自由度，是探索矢量光场特性与实现矢量光场调控的理想平台。本文回顾了近年来矢量光场与原子介质相互作用的研究进展，重点介绍了原子介质与矢量光场在空间极化调控、相干调控、频率转换和非线性传输等研究领域的相关工作，并对该领域的未来发展趋势进行了展望。

The cylindrical vector beam (CVB) has been extensively studied in recent years, but detection of CVBs with on-chip photonic devices is a challenge. Here, we propose and theoretically study a chiral plasmonic lens structure for CVB detection. The structure illuminated by a CVB can generate single plasmonic focus, whose focal position depends on the incident angle and the polarization order of CVB. Thus, the incident CVB can be detected according to the focal position and incident angle and with a coupling waveguide to avoid the imaging of the whole plasmonic field. It shows great potential in applications including CVB-multiplexing integrated communication systems.