ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED METASURFACE FOR LARGE-ANGLE BEAM STEERING AND LIDAR APPLICATIONS

The invention relates to an optical component comprising a metasurface, wherein the metasurface comprises a repeating pattern of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises at least two different scattering structures, wherein first scattering structures are at least partially contacting a first substance having a first refractive index and second scattering structures are at least partially contacting a second substance, which differs from the first substance, wherein the second substance provides a refractive index 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 row-wise on electrodes, wherein electrodes supporting neighboring rows of pairs of first and second scattering structures are electrically separated from each other, and a LIDAR system comprising such an optical component. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for amending a deflection angle of such an optical component.