Resonance-enhanced integrated acousto-optic beam steering
Abstract
Optical beam steering is a key technology for free-space optical communication, sensing, and imaging. Mechanical beam steering systems suffer from limited scanning speed and bulky form factors, while existing solid-state solutions rely on pixelated synthetic aperture that requires complex fabrication and control architectures. Integrated acousto-optic beam steering (AOBS) is an emerging technology that enables continuous one-dimensional beam steering using integrated acoustic transducers and fixed-wavelength laser sources. Here, we integrate AOBS with an optical ring resonator on the same thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform to significantly enhance beam steering efficiency and system functionality. The resulting device achieves a resonance-enhanced beam steering efficiency of up to 20% over a 18 degrees field of view. Moreover, by leveraging integrated electro-optic control, we dynamically lock the ring-resonator's resonance to a chirped laser frequency, enabling frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR operation. By combining lithium niobate's piezoelectric and electro-optic properties, this work establishes a compact, efficient, and scalable beam-steering platform with co-integrated acousto-optic modulation and electro-optic control for multifunctional applications.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.18191,
title = {Resonance-enhanced integrated acousto-optic beam steering},
author = {Yue Yu and Qixuan Lin and Shucheng Fang and Joseph G. Thomas and Yibing Zhou and Zichen Xi and Jun Ji and Yizheng Zhu and Linbo Shao and Bingzhao Li and Mo Li},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.18191},
year = {2026}
}