biostudies-literatureAita VRCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Excellent Science (H2020 Priority Excellent Science)3807https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12019337biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Structured light plays an important role in metrology, optical trapping and manipulation, communications, quantum technologies and nonlinear optics. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach for the manipulation of vector beams carrying longitudinal field components using metamaterials with extreme anisotropy. Implementing vectorial spectroscopy, we show that the propagation of complex beams with inhomogeneous polarization is strongly affected by the interplay of the metamaterial anisotropy with the transverse and longitudinal field structure of the beam. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in the epsilon-near-zero regime, exclusively realised for light polarized along the metamaterial optical axis, strongly influencing the interaction of longitudinal fields with the metamaterial. Nature communicationsLongitudinal field controls vector vortex beams in anisotropic epsilon-near-zero metamaterials.PMC12019337EP/Y015673/1789340Aita VRodriguez-Fortuno FJZayats AVZaleska AShevchenko MNicholls LHRoth DJKrasavin AVfalseLongitudinal field controls vector vortex beams in anisotropic epsilon-near-zero metamaterials.Structured light plays an important role in metrology, optical trapping and manipulation, communications, quantum technologies and nonlinear optics. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach for the manipulation of vector beams carrying longitudinal field components using metamaterials with extreme anisotropy. Implementing vectorial spectroscopy, we show that the propagation of complex beams with inhomogeneous polarization is strongly affected by the interplay of the metamaterial anisotropy with the transverse and longitudinal field structure of the beam. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in the epsilon-near-zero regime, exclusively realised for light polarized along the metamaterial optical axis, strongly influencing the interaction of longitudinal fields with the metamaterial. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2025-07-10T03:08:53.523Z2025-07-10T03:08:53.523ZS-EPMC120193374026889610.1038/s41467-025-58088-8