LAUSR

Significance Nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating long-range atom–atom interactions using guided mode photons, as well as long-range photon–photon interactions mediated by lattices of atoms. Such systems have the potential to provide new tools for quantum science. However, an outstanding challenge is the delivery of single atoms to optical traps near nanophotonic devices. We introduce a capability that could increase fidelity for atom-lattice assembly near nanophotonic structures. Other applications include imaging strategies. Spatially structured light has opened a wide range of opportunities for enhanced imaging as well as optical manipulation and particle confinement. Here, we show that phase-coherent illumination with superpositions of radial Laguerre–Gauss (LG) beams provides improved localization for bright optical tweezer traps, with narrowed radial and axial intensity distributions. Further, the Gouy phase shifts for sums of tightly focused radial LG fields can be exploited for phase-contrast strategies at the wavelength scale. One example developed here is the suppression of interference fringes from reflection near nanodielectric surfaces, with the promise of improved cold-atom delivery and manipulation.