Dynamic wavefront transformer based on a two-degree-of-freedom control system for 6-kHz mechanically actuated beam steering

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel wavefront transformer using a two-degree-of-freedom control system for rapid, semi-omnidirectional beam steering, enabling dynamic optical reconfiguration with simplified control.

Contribution

It presents a new paradigm for wavefront reconfiguration using control systems with matching degrees of freedom, demonstrated with a mechanically actuated metasurface for high-speed beam steering.

Findings

Achieved 6-kHz modulation speed

Demonstrated ±65.6° field of view

Enabled dynamic wavefront reconfiguration

Abstract

Vast tunable optical components are realized based on dynamic reconfigurations of the incident wavefronts, such as beam steering and tunable lens. However, the dominant paradigm of current wavefront reconfiguration technologies relies on complex control systems with degrees of freedom much larger than output wavefronts, e.g. beam steering based on spatial light modulator or phased array antennas. Here, we propose a new paradigm for dynamic reconfiguration of arbitrary output wavefronts using control systems with the same degrees of freedom. As an example, a wavefront transformer is demonstrated using an in-plane two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) mechanical actuation system of metasurface doublet for semi-omnidirectional beam steering, which measured a 6-kHz modulation speed and a "+-65.6 degree" field of view. This paradigm can be applied to metasurface transformers for dynamic wavefront reconfiguration with any control system for vast applications, such as tunable lens, beam steering, and dynamic beam profiler, just to name a few.