All-solid-state omnidirectional fast scanning using liquid crystal optical phased array and conical mirror

Optical phased arrays (OPAs) are a key technology in solid-state beam scanning, capable of achieving beam steering and scanning without relying on any mechanical moving parts. However, their application in the field of scanning is constrained by two significant limitations: a narrow scanning field of view (FOV) and long scanning periods. To address these limitations, we propose an omnidirectional scanning model combining a liquid crystal optical phased array (LC-OPA) and a conical mirror. The experimental results demonstrate that by generating annular beams with the LC-OPA and combining them with a passive conical mirror, a scanning FOV of 360°×2.1° was achieved. The scanning error was less than 0.04°, and the scanning period was reduced to 1/4800 that of a two-dimensional grating scanning system, and no mechanical moving parts were involved.