Physics: Structured lights: Properties and Applications

As a kind of customized light field with specific spatial-temporal evolution characteristics, the structured light possesses novel properties in the interaction between light and matter. It has widely been employed in optical manipulation, biomedical sensing and imaging, optical communication, and many others. The aim of this topical collection is to showcase the most recent works associated with structured lights. This collection will feature original research covering a broad range of topics, including but not limited to the physical mechanism of spatial/temporal field modulations, characterization techniques, as well as advances in wide functional applications. We expect that this collection can be of interest to researchers in the field of optics, as well as facilitate future research from members of wider scientific communities.