Electrically controlled metasurface for large-angle beam steering and LIDAR applications

A method for amending a deflection angle (θ) of an optical component, wherein the optical component comprises a metasurface, wherein the metasurface comprises a repeating pattern of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises at least two different scattering structures, wherein at least a portion of the first scattering structures are in direct contact with a first substance having a first refractive index (ñ1) and at least a portion of the second scattering structures are in direct contact with a second substance, which differs from the first substance,

• wherein the second substance provides a refractive index (ñ2) which is variable depending on an electrical control signal, wherein a plurality of pairs of first scattering structures contacting the first substance and second scattering structures contacting the second substance are arranged in an aligned manner on electrodes, wherein the first substance contacts the first scattering structures at all sides which are not contacting the electrode, wherein at least two electrodes supporting aligned pairs of first and second scattering structures are electrically connected to a controller, which is configured to apply an individual control signal to each of these electrodes,
• said method comprising the step of amending the refractive index (ñ2) of the second substance associated to selected electrodes by applying a control signal to these electrodes, wherein the deflection angle (θ) of the optical component is amended synchronously to pulses of a light source.