Imaging properties of a metamaterial superlens

The subwavelength imaging quality of a metamaterial superlens is studied numerically in the wave vector domain. Examples of image compression and magnification are given and resolution limits are discussed. A minimal resolution of λ/6 is obtained using a 36 nm silver film at 364 nm wavelength. Simulation also reveals that the power flux is no longer a good measure to determine the focal plane of superlens due to the elevated field strength at exit side of the metamaterial slab.

[1]  V. Veselago.  The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ∊ and μ , 1968 .

[2]  Jung-Tsung Shen,et al.  Near field imaging with negative dielectric constant lenses , 2002 .

[3]  Rolf Schuhmann,et al.  Ab initio numerical simulation of left-handed metamaterials: Comparison of calculations and experiments , 2001 .

[4]  Masaya Notomi,et al.  Theory of light propagation in strongly modulated photonic crystals: Refractionlike behavior in the vicinity of the photonic band gap , 2000 .

[5]  Heinz Raether,et al.  BOOKS: Pattern Recognition in Practice: Proceedings, International Workshop, Amsterdam, 21-23 May 1980; Optical Fiber Systems and Their Components: An Introduction; Excitation of Plasmons and Interband Transitions by Electrons. , 1980, Applied optics.

[6]  Ekaterina Shamonina,et al.  Imaging, compression and Poynting vector streamlines for negative permittivity materials , 2001 .

[7]  Willie J Padilla,et al.  Composite medium with simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity , 2000, Physical review letters.

[8]  R. Ziolkowski,et al.  Wave propagation in media having negative permittivity and permeability. , 2001, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

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

[10]  Masaya Notomi,et al.  Superprism Phenomena in Photonic Crystals , 1998 .

[11]  R. Shelby,et al.  Experimental Verification of a Negative Index of Refraction , 2001, Science.

[12]  D. Schurig,et al.  The asymmetric lossy near-perfect lens , 2002 .