Self-engineered spin-orbit photonic technology

Optical systems enabling the control of the orbital angular momentum of light found many uses in photonics research and future emerging technologies. It happens that the natural self-organization of liquid crystals into various kinds of topological defects suits well for this task. This represents an interesting self-engineering route towards the realization of advanced photonic devices, which will be reviewed through several examples across length scales ranging from the microscopic to the macrsocopic world. In particular, we will discuss how such a Nature-assisted approach to advanced topological shaping of light has a tremendous potential to open-up novel applications.