Experimental demonstration of a non-resonant hyperlens in the visible spectral range

A metamaterial hyperlens offers a solution to overcome the diffraction limit by transforming evanescent waves responsible for imaging subwavelength features of an object into propagating waves. However, the first realizations of optical hyperlenses were limited by significant resonance-induced losses. Here we report the experimental demonstration of a non-resonant waveguide-coupled hyperlens operating in the visible wavelength range. A detailed investigation of various materials systems proves that a radial fan-shaped configuration is superior to the concentric layer-based configuration in that it relies on non-resonant negative dielectric response, and, as a result, enables low-loss performance in the visible range.

[1]  Pengfei Cao,et al.  Deep subwavelength focusing of light by a trumpet hyperlens , 2011 .

[2]  Sharmila Anandasabapathy,et al.  Optical molecular imaging for detection of Barrett's-associated neoplasia. , 2011, World journal of gastroenterology.

[3]  Mikhail A. Noginov,et al.  Control of spontaneous emission in a volume of functionalized hyperbolic metamaterial , 2011 .

[4]  Zhaowei Liu,et al.  Superlenses to overcome the diffraction limit. , 2008, Nature materials.

[5]  Z. Jacob,et al.  Optical Hyperlens: Far-field imaging beyond the diffraction limit. , 2006, Optics express.

[6]  Costas M. Soukoulis,et al.  Optical anisotropic metamaterials: Negative refraction and focusing , 2009, 0907.1112.

[7]  D. Lynch,et al.  Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids , 1985 .

[8]  Zhaowei Liu,et al.  Optical Negative Refraction in Bulk Metamaterials of Nanowires , 2008, Science.

[9]  Xiang Zhang,et al.  All-angle negative refraction and imaging in a bulk medium made of metallic nanowires in the visible region. , 2008, Optics express.

[10]  D. Tsai,et al.  Directed subwavelength imaging using a layered metal-dielectric system , 2006, physics/0608170.

[11]  Xiaobo Yin,et al.  Experimental demonstration of an acoustic magnifying hyperlens. , 2009, Nature materials.

[12]  Baile Zhang,et al.  Realization of deep subwavelength resolution with singular media , 2014, Scientific Reports.

[13]  Shuangchun Wen,et al.  Critical coupling with graphene-based hyperbolic metamaterials , 2014, Scientific Reports.

[14]  J. Pendry,et al.  Negative refraction makes a perfect lens , 2000, Physical review letters.

[15]  Zhaowei Liu,et al.  Spherical hyperlens for two-dimensional sub-diffractional imaging at visible frequencies. , 2010, Nature communications.

[16]  Yi Xiong,et al.  Far-field optical superlens. , 2007, Nano letters.

[17]  Filippo Capolino,et al.  Hyperbolic metamaterial as super absorber for scattered fields generated at its surface , 2012 .

[18]  Zhaowei Liu,et al.  Imaging visible light using anisotropic metamaterial slab lens. , 2009, Optics express.

[19]  Yi Xiong,et al.  Development of optical hyperlens for imaging below the diffraction limit. , 2007, Optics express.

[20]  E. Narimanov,et al.  Control of absorption with hyperbolic metamaterials , 2012 .

[21]  T. Cui,et al.  Broadband All‐Dielectric Magnifying Lens for Far‐Field High‐Resolution Imaging , 2013, Advanced materials.

[22]  J. White,et al.  Progesterone induces nano‐scale molecular modifications on endometrial epithelial cell surfaces , 2009, Biology of the cell.

[23]  Zhaowei Liu,et al.  Far-Field Optical Hyperlens Magnifying Sub-Diffraction-Limited Objects , 2007, Science.

[24]  M. Iwanaga.  Hyperlens-array-implemented optical microscopy , 2014 .

[25]  Alessandro Salandrino,et al.  Far-field subdiffraction optical microscopy using metamaterial crystals: Theory and simulations , 2006 .

[26]  Faxin Yu,et al.  Broadband subwavelength imaging using non-resonant metamaterials , 2014 .

[27]  I. Smolyaninov,et al.  Magnifying Superlens in the Visible Frequency Range , 2006, Science.

[28]  E. Narimanov,et al.  Hyperbolic metamaterials , 2013, 2015 11th Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR).

[29]  Leonid Alekseyev,et al.  Supplementary Information for “ Negative refraction in semiconductor metamaterials ” , 2007 .

[30]  N. Fang,et al.  Sub–Diffraction-Limited Optical Imaging with a Silver Superlens , 2005, Science.

[31]  Super-resolution image transfer by a vortex-like metamaterial. , 2013, Optics express.

[32]  V. Shalaev,et al.  Alternative Plasmonic Materials: Beyond Gold and Silver , 2013, Advanced materials.

[33]  G. Shvets,et al.  Near-Field Microscopy Through a SiC Superlens , 2006, Science.