Abstract
Nonmechanical beam steering is a rapidly growing branch of adaptive optics with applications such as light detection and ranging, imaging, optical communications, and atomic physics. Here, we present an innovative technique for one- and two-dimensional beam steering using multiple tunable liquid lenses. We use an approach in which one lens controls the spot divergence, and one to two decentered lenses act as prisms and steer the beam. Continuous 1D beam steering was demonstrated, achieving steering angles of ±39° using two tunable liquid lenses. The beam scanning angle was further enhanced to ±75° using a fisheye lens. By adding a third tunable liquid lens, we achieved 2D beam steering of ±75°. In this approach, the divergence of the scanning beam is controlled at all steering angles.
Highlights
Optical beam scanning methods have a wide range of applications including optical communications [1], light detection and ranging (LIDAR/LADAR) [2], laser micromachining [3], displays [4], microscopy [5], atomic and biophysics [6]
We modeled the wavefront aberrations in Zemax after the two tunable liquid lenses using a Gaussian beam
In conclusion, we have demonstrated one- and two-dimensional beam steering based on tunable liquid lenses
Summary
Optical beam scanning methods have a wide range of applications including optical communications [1], light detection and ranging (LIDAR/LADAR) [2], laser micromachining [3], displays [4], microscopy [5], atomic and biophysics [6]. Beam steering is important for fluorescence imaging through confocal [7, 8] and multi-photon microscopy [9]. Optical trapping [6] studies rely on beam control to manipulate the optical trap position and Techniques
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
