Spherical aberration of light is commonly known as an undesired effect in optical trapping. We demonstrate how to take advantage of this effect in order to shape extended light landscapes in a counter-propagating trapping configuration, fully-structured in three-dimensional (3D) space and embedding transverse as well as longitudinal field contributions. We numerically analyze the aberration, presenting controlled intensity and 3D polarization ellipse structures. Experimentally, we demonstrate the versatility of the structured light field using optically guided particles as sensors, analyzing their dynamics by velocimetry and scattered light. Finally, we elucidate the potential of the complex light field for 3D particle assemblies.
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