A Guided Tour of Light Beams

Exploring the evolution of laser technology, this book delves into specialized light beams with unique properties, such as self-reconstruction and complex bending. These advancements open avenues for innovative applications, including microscopic tractor beams and the manipulation of molecules for nanostructure creation. Aimed at undergraduates familiar with optics and quantum mechanics, it serves as a comprehensive introduction, consolidating various research topics into a cohesive textbook format for the first time.