Certain key applications in science and technology can benefit from three dimensional (3-D) beam steering of light where a point of light can be both translated and focused/defocused. Following phased array radar 3-D beamforming methods, researchers have devised optical phased array devices where the 2-D planar structure of the optical device is populated with individually controllable optical phase shifter sites. Optical devices have been built using 1 -D or 2-D pixel layout geometries with various electrode and driving electronic structures. Although 3-D steering has been achieved, it is accompanied by key system limitations.
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