Scanning an optical beam about a field of regard with no moving parts

A method for directing an optical beam at different headings within a plane using an optical apparatus that uses no physically moving components, the method comprising the steps of:

• delivering a coherent light from a source that provides control of the light's frequency to one surface of a physically fixed spiral phase plate resonator which has another surface from which at least a portion of the light exits, the light exiting from different regions around a center axis of the another surface dependent on the frequency of the light;
• redirecting the exiting light by a fixed reflector that is mounted adjacent the another surface, a surface of the fixed reflector redirecting the exiting light at about a 90 degree angle relative to the path of the light as it exits the another surface;
• delivering command signals by a processor controlled apparatus with different values to the coherent light source where the frequency of the coherent light corresponds to the value of the command signal, the frequency of the light determining a particular region from which the light exits the another surface and a corresponding location on the fixed reflector where the light will be reflected, delivering the different values of command signals to cause corresponding different frequencies of the light causing the light to be scanned about a plane by the optical apparatus that has no physically moving components.