Ring Light Beam Deflector: Theory

The arrayed-waveguide deflector for 3-D light beam steering is described. The proposed structure with a 2-D waveguide is suitable for using the electrooptic effect. The device can also generate a light beam with phase singularity. Its usage is expected to find many applications including measurement and information processing. When the device is used to implement an N channel large-scale optical switch, only a 3N^1/2 waveguide array is required for a phaser. Fast beam steering will lead to new field of applications impossible with conventional devices.