A pathway to subwavelength imaging using a metamaterial superlens

Zhaowei Liu; Nicholas Fang; Ta-Jen Yen; Xiang Zhang

doi:10.1117/12.506647

28 October 2003 A pathway to subwavelength imaging using a metamaterial superlens

Zhaowei Liu, Nicholas Fang, Ta-Jen Yen, Xiang Zhang

Proceedings Volume 5221, Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506647
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Recent theoretical works have suggested the possibility of constructing a diffraction-free lens by using a negative refractive index medium (NRIM). The key theoretical proposition is that evanescent waves can be greatly enhanced by increasing the thickness of the NRIM. We present here experimental evidence on enhanced transmission of evanescent waves via surface plasmon at a thin silver film operating near surface plasma resonant frequency. We found the transmission of evanescent waves rapidly grows with the film thickness up to about 50 nm, after which it decays as loss becomes significant. These experiments also demonstrated the broadening of enhanced transmission spectrum as photon energy approaches plasma resonance ε_Ag = -1 condition. These findings represent the first step toward the understanding and realization of a diffraction-free lens by using NRIM.

Citation Download Citation

Zhaowei Liu, Nicholas Fang, Ta-Jen Yen, and Xiang Zhang "A pathway to subwavelength imaging using a metamaterial superlens", Proc. SPIE 5221, Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties, (28 October 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506647

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