Fig. 1. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on ultrafast current devices. (a) GaAs-based microstructured photoconductive antenna^[38]; (b) InP-based microstructured photoconductive antenna^[39]; (c) Multi-pixel photoconductive emitters^[41]; (d) Radially polarized terahertz waves from one-color laser-induced plasma filament^[42]; (e) Ultrashort laser off-axis injecting parabolic plasma channel emits high-field terahertz waves^[44]; (f) Dynamic loop currents radiates angularly polarized terahertz pulses^[46]; (g, h) Light-driven nanoscale vectorial currents radiates terahertz waves^[47]; (i) Nanostructured spintronic emitters^[52]

Fig. 2. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on nonlinear devices. (a) Terahertz vector beams generation using segmented nonlinear optical crystals^[54]; (b, c) Terahertz polarization pulse shaping with arbitrary field control^[56]; (d) Direct emission of broadband terahertz cylindrical vector Bessel beam^[58]; (e) Infrared vector beam pumping generates terahertz vector beam bearing tailored topological charge^[59]; (f) Direct generation of a terahertz vector beam from a ZnTe crystal excited by a focused pulse^[60]

Fig. 3. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on quantum cascade lasers. (a, b) Quantum cascade laser with polarization-winding emission^[67]; (c) Electrically-pumped compact topological bulk lasers^[68]; (d) Single-mode electrically pumped terahertz laser^[69]

Fig. 4. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on birefringent wave plates. (a) Different schemes of Q-plate for vector beam shaping^[70]; (b) 3D printed continuous Q-plate^[72]; (c) 3D printed segmented Q-plate^[73]

Fig. 5. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on metasurfaces. (a) Dielectric metasurfaces via spin-decoupled phase control^[86]; (b) Dielectric metasurfaces for complete control of phase, amplitude, and polarization^[88]; (c) Graphene meta-devices for dynamically controlling terahertz waves^[90]; (d) Tight focusing field of cylindrical vector beams^[93]; (e) Longitudinally varying vector vortex beams^[94]; (f) Structured vector field manipulation of along the propagation direction^[95]

Fig. 6. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on liquid crystal^[122]. (a) Schematic of tunable cylindrical vector beams generator; (b) Exploded view of the structure of a unit cell; (c) Measurement results of reconfigurable polarization patterns; (d) Measurement results of the reconfigurable vector beams

Fig. 7. Generation of terahertz vector beams based on total internal reflection device. (a) Achromatic axially symmetric wave plate^[123]; (b) Achromatic non-axisymmetric wave plate^[124]; (c) Generation of azimuthally- and radially-polarized terahertz beams from a spintronic terahertz emitter^[125]

Fig. 8. Non-dispersive transmission of terahertz pulses. (a) Non-dispersive transmission of terahertz pulses through metal waveguides^[17]; (b, c) Efficient coupling of broadband radially polarized terahertz pulse beams to waveguides^[55]; (d) Launching terahertz pulses generation at the semiconductor surfaces into coaxial waveguides^[19]

Fig. 9. Polarization measurement. (a) Vector vortex analysis for polarization measurements^[123]; (b) Highly sensitive polarization rotation measurements^[28]; (c, d) Three-in-one polarization detector^[20]

Fig. 10. Imaging and sensing. (a) Azimuthally polarized beam used to obtain electromagnetic properties of matter^[21]; (b) Wavefront-modified vector beams for terahertz cornea spectroscopy^[22]; (c) Azimuthally polarized terahertz pulses for spectral measurements of water vapor^[46]; (d) Longitudinally varying vector beams for measurement of media thickness^[99]

Fig. 11. Vectorial hologram. (a) Dielectric metasurface for vectorial meta-holograms^[88]; (b, c)Tri-layer metallic metasurface for multi-channel vectorial holograms^[91]

Fig. 12. Electron dynamics. (a) Coupled spin and orbital electron dynamics driven by terahertz vector fields^[23]; (b) Azimuthally polarized beam steer the spin and spatial distributions of two interacting electrons in a quantum dot^[24]