Spectral-acoustic-coordinated astigmatic metalens for wide field-of-view and high-speed spatiotemporal 3D imaging

Metasurface-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is essential for high-precision three-dimensional (3D) imaging in robotic and autonomous systems. Recent advances in inertia-free scanning techniques—such as acousto-optic and spectral scanning—have propelled the field forward. Nevertheless, key spatiotemporal metrics, including point acquisition rate (PAR), field-of-view (FOV), and imaging resolution, remain fundamentally constrained. These challenges are particularly acute in dual-axis LiDARs, where rate mismatches and beam astigmatism degrade temporal and spatial resolution, respectively. Here, we present a wide-FOV, high spatiotemporal resolution LiDAR with astigmatic metalens (AML) coordinated spectral-acousto-optic scanning. Consequently, a frame-wise point acquisition rate (FPAR) of 36.6 MHz (∼5-fold improvement over existing reports) and a wide FOV of 102° are simultaneously achieved. This breakthrough redefines LiDAR’s potential for ultra-high-speed, high-precision perception, enhancing applications such as autonomous driving with improved obstacle detection and safety at high speeds.