> An alternative to an acoustic-optic modulator is the electroptic deflector. There are a few types but the readily available type uses a quadrupole electric field on a lithium niobate crystal. This generates a linear refractive index gradient in one plane that can be adjusted on a ultra fast time scale. This gives the ability to change the deflection angle of a suitably polarised beam propagating down the quadrupole axis. With fast pulse generators the deflection speed can be good enough to achieve deflection by several diffraction angles in perhaps 10 ps.

This sounds like something Geordi LaForge would say.

>This sounds like something Geordi LaForge would say.

Precisely why optics is the coolest shit ever

You can do it nonmechanically by bending the spacetime geodesic of the light path with an electromagnetically controlled nano black hole. Pretty sure they're not yet available on Aliexpress, but probably soon.