Generation of hexagonal close-packed ring-shaped structures using an optical vortex

Abstract An optical vortex possesses a ring-shaped spatial profile and orbital angular momentum (OAM) owing to its helical wavefront. This form of structured light has garnered significant attention in recent years, it enabled new investigations fundamental physics applications. One such exciting application is laser-based material transfer for nano-/micro-fabrication. In this work, we demonstrate the single-pulse laser beam direct printing structures composed hexagonal close-packed, mono-/multi-layered nanoparticles which exhibit ‘structural color’. We compare contrast interaction with both dielectric metallic offer physical insight into how OAM beams interacts matter. The demonstrated technique holds promise not only photonic-based nano-/micro-fabrication, but also as means sorting particles on nanoscale, technology term ‘optical nanoparticle sorting’.