Interplay between optical vortices and condensed matter

The interaction between light and matter is a subject of ongoing fundamental interest at the intersection of optics and condensed-matter physics. This review discusses how the structuring of light into optical vortices leads to distinctive optical selection rules and coupling to sample geometry, requiring reformulation of the standard theory for interaction of plane-wave light with matter. The interactions of optical vortices with semiconductor nanostructures, quantum rings, and 2D materials are presented. The results suggest further avenues for fundamental investigation as well as current and prospective applications in quantum control, communications, and sensing.