Subwavelength imaging enhancement through a three-dimensional plasmon superlens with rough surface

In this Letter we investigate the subwavelength imaging of a three-dimensional plasmon superlens based on the full vector wave simulations of optical wave propagation and transmission. The optical transfer functions are computed. Comparisons are made between the results of lenses with flat and periodic/random rough surfaces. We also study the problem of practical imaging system geometry using laser as an illumination source. Results show that the lens with periodic or random roughness can reduce the field interference effects, and provide improved focus on the transmission field and the Poynting flux. We illustrate that the subwavelength roughness in a plasmon lens can enhance the image resolution over a flat lens for both matched and unmatched permittivity conditions. The enhancement of resolution occurs because the introduced subwavelength roughness can amplify the evanescent wave components and suppress the surface plasmon resonance peaks.     

Three-dimensional subwavelength imaging by a photonic-crystal flat lens using negative refraction at microwave frequencies

We experimentally demonstrate subwavelength resolution imaging at microwave frequencies by a three-dimensional (3D) photonic-crystal flat lens using full 3D negative refraction. The photonic crystal was fabricated in a layer-by-layer process. A subwavelength pinhole source and a dipole detector were employed for the measurement. By point-by-point scanning, we obtained the image of the pinhole source shown in both amplitude and phase, which demonstrated the imaging mechanism and subwavelength feature size in all three dimensions. An image of two pinhole sources with subwavelength spacing showed two resolved spots, which further verified subwavelength resolution.     

FDTD study of subwavelength imaging by a photonic crystal slab

The problem of subwavelength imaging via a photonic crystal slab lens made of two-dimensional (2D) square arrays of parallel dielectric cylinders in air is studied and discussed theoretically. The finite-difference time-domain method is employed to investigate the unique features of imaging by such lens. We confirm earlier findings that a photonic crystal slab lens can provide the imaging of a point source. By analysing the transmission properties of the proposed structure, we demonstrate that inside the all-angle negative refraction, there are some favourable directions for waves to travel. We show that the surface termination of the photonic crystal is a key parameter to obtain a good quality image. The super-resolution of two sources separated by a distance less than the wavelength is also considered. It is shown that the achievable resolution is limited by the slab length.     

Efficient and wide spectrum half-cylindrical hyperlens with symmetrical metallodielectric structure

We propose a half-cylindrical hyperlens with symmetrical metallodielectric structure which consists of five periods of the symmetrical GaP/Ag/GaP films. Such hyperlens can transfer subwavelength information to the output surface (about one wavelength) due to the flat dispersion. Compared with the half-cylindrical hyperlens composed of the resonant Ag/GaP structure, the symmetrical GaP/Ag/GaP metallodielectric structure shows higher transmission and resolution for the propagating waves and evanescent waves, which is also confirmed by the transfer matrix method. In addition, subwavelength imaging can be realized when the incident wavelength varies from 550 nm to 650 nm.     

Subwavelength focusing and imaging by a multimode optical waveguide

A simple subwavelength focusing system formed by a straight or bent multimode waveguide is investigated numerically. The simulation results indicate that an appropriately designed multimode waveguide can focus the outgoing waves of a point source and form an image with a full width at half-maximum of less than half a wavelength in the near-field area at the other side of the waveguide. The physical mechanism of the subwavelength focusing for this imaging system is explained.     

Surface-wave mechanism of subwavelength imaging by a flat left-handed superlens

We develop a theory describing the dynamics and interaction of electromagnetic surface waves (ESWs) resonantly excited by an external source in a slab of left-handed material (LHM) with identical negative (equal to −1) values of dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability that makes up a so-called perfect lens, or a superlens. We show that subwavelength imaging by a superlens is associated with the degeneracy of the spectrum of eigen electromagnetic surface modes at the interfaces of the metamaterial slab, whereas the dynamic response of the superlens is completely determined by the dynamics of these modes and the dispersion properties of the metamaterial. We obtain conditions that enable one to find out when a superlens produces subwavelength images of an external source. We consider the cases of a stationary and a pulse source, as well as of a source that moves with constant velocity or oscillates in space.     

Study of scattering patterns and subwavelength scale imaging based on finite-sized metamaterials

A metamaterial slab, used as a superlens in a subwavelength imaging system, is frequently assumed homogeneous. It is the bulk properties of the metamaterial which are responsible for the resolution of the transferred information in the image domain, as a result of high transverse wave-vector coupling. However, how in a discretized metamaterial, individual meta-atoms (i.e., the meta-elements composing a negative index metamaterial slab) contribute to the imaging process is still actively studied. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the consequences of using only a few meta-atoms as a negative index slab-equivalent for subwavelength scale imaging. We make a specific choice for a meta-atom and investigate its resonant scattering patterns. We report on how knowledge of these 3D scattering patterns provides a means to understand the transfer of high spatial frequencies and assist with the design an improved negative index slab.     

波状结构二维光子晶体近场亚波长成像的研究

研究了波状结构二维光子晶体(2DPC)在红外波段的负折射近场成像,对其等频面进行了分析,指出波状结构二维光子晶体无法实现负折射远场成像的原因在于缺少与入射介质等频面相匹配的光子晶体圆形等频面,所用的矩形等频面使波状膜层二维光子晶体不可避免地具有各向异性特征,进而将成像限制在近场范围内。采用时域有限差分(时域有限差分)方法模拟了不同厚度的波状结构二维光子晶体近场成像效果,当厚度为两倍栅格常量时,单光源的成像分辨力为0.28λ,达到亚波长分辨效果。分辨力随着光源逐渐远离近场范围而降低,而像点的位置基本不随光源距离和光子晶体厚度的变化而改变。双光源的成像模拟进一步验证了波状结构二维光子晶体的近场亚波长成像能力,分辨力达到0.35λ,但成像质量受光子晶体厚度变化的影响较大。     

Sub-diffraction-limited far-field imaging in infrared

We investigated a far-field superlens operating at mid-infrared wavelength that allows resolving subwavelength features in the far-field. By utilizing evanescent enhancement provided by surface plasmon excitation of silver nanorods and Moiré effect, we numerically demonstrated that subwavelength information of an object can be converted to propagating information. This information can then be captured by conventional optical components. A simple image reconstruction algorithm can restore the subwavelength object. A sub-diffraction-limited resolution of 2.5 μm at 6-μm wavelength is demonstrated.     

Subwavelength optical imaging through a metallic nanorod array

We propose a subwavelength imaging system without a lens or a mirror but with an array of metallic nanorods. The near-field components of dipole sources were plasmonically transferred through the rod array to reproduce the source distribution in the other side. We calculated the field distribution at the different planes of imaging process using the finite-difference time-domain algorithm and found that the spatial resolution was 40 nm given by the rod size and spacing. A typical configuration is a hexagonal arrangement of silver rods of 50 nm height and 20 nm diameter. We also show that the image formation highly depends on the coherence and the polarization of the source distribution and the source-array distance.     

Transverse electromagnetic modes in aperture waveguides containing a metamaterial with extreme anisotropy

We use metamaterials with extreme anisotropy to solve the fundamental problem of light transport in deep subwavelength apertures. By filling a simply connected aperture with an anisotropic medium, we decouple the cutoff frequency and the group velocity of modes inside apertures. In the limit of extreme anisotropy, all modes become purely transverse electromagnetic modes, free from geometrical dispersion, propagate with a velocity controlled by the transverse permittivity and permeability, and have zero cutoff frequency. We analyze physically realizable cases for a circular aperture and show a metamaterial design using existing materials.     

Thermal light subwavelength diffraction using positive and negative correlations

Ghost imaging and diffraction, inspired by the Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect, have potential in both classical and quantum optics regimes on account of their nonlocal characteristics and subwavelength resolution capabil?ity, and therefore have aroused particular interest. By extending the correspondence imaging scheme, we utilize the positive and negative intensity correlations in diffraction and perform subwavelength diffraction with pseudo-thermal light. In the experiment, a subwavelength(A/2) resolution and a better signal-to-noise ratio(10.3% improvement) are simultaneously achieved. The scheme can be utilized as a complement to the existing ghost imaging scheme to improve image quality.     

Sub-wavelength imaging with a left-handed material flat lens

We study numerically, by means of the pseudospectral time-domain method, the unique features of imaging by a flat lens made of a left-handed metamaterial that possesses the property of negative refraction. We confirm the earlier finding that a left-handed flat lens can provide near-perfect imaging of a point source and a pair of point sources with clear evidence of sub-wavelength resolution. We illustrate the limitation of the resolution in the time-integrated image due to the presence of surface waves.     

Near field imaging in microwave regime using double layer split-ring resonator based metamaterial

A planar metamaterial structure consisting of two layers of split-ring resonator (SRR) arrays is demonstrated to form the image of a point source with subwavelength resolution. The source frequency is swept through the resonance gap of the metamaterial layers and the lateral field intensity distribution is recorded on the transmission side of the metamaterial. When the source is tuned to the resonance frequency of SRRs, the metamaterial acts as a high permeability medium and a distinct image with subwavelength resolution in the lateral direction is obtained. Increasing the distance between the individual SRR layers reduces the interlayer coupling, and the intensity and spatial resolution of the image decrease rapidly.     

近红外波段硅基金属光子晶体平板的亚波长成像特性

利用时域有限差分方法,理论上研究了由正方形金属嵌入背景材料硅中组成的二维正方晶格和三角晶格光子晶体的亚波长成像特性。采用Drude模型描述金属银的色散特性,在近红外波段该模型可以很好地描述金属的实际介电常数。通过结构参数的设计,在上述两种结构中实现了波长在1550nm附近的亚波长成像,并且发现金属对入射光的吸收使得成像位置处的光强稍有降低,但是对于光子晶体亚波长成像的质量并无影响。相对于通常的硅基空气孔型光子晶体亚波长成像器件,该种硅基金属型全固态光子晶体结构更加稳定,因而可以更好地在复杂全光集成回路中加以实际应用。     

Sub-diffraction-limited far-field imaging in infrared

We investigated a far-field superlens operating at mid-infrared wavelength that allows resolving subwavelength features in the far-field. By utilizing evanescent enhancement provided by surface plasmon excitation of silver nanorods and Moiré effect, we numerically demonstrated that subwavelength information of an object can be converted to propagating information. This information can then be captured by conventional optical components. A simple image reconstruction algorithm can restore the subwavelength object. A sub-diffraction-limited resolution of 2.5 μm at 6-μm wavelength is demonstrated.     

Terahertz near-field imaging using subwavelength plasmonic apertures and a quantum cascade laser source

The first demonstration, to our knowledge, of near-field imaging using subwavelength plasmonic apertures with a terahertz quantum cascade laser source is presented. "Bull's-eye" apertures, featuring subwavelength circular apertures flanked by periodic annular corrugations were created using a novel fabrication method. A fivefold increase in intensity was observed for plasmonic apertures over plain apertures of the same diameter. Detailed studies of the transmitted beam profiles were undertaken for apertures with both planarized and corrugated exit facets, with the former producing spatially uniform intensity profiles and subwavelength spatial resolution. Finally, a proof-of-concept imaging experiment is presented, where an inhomogeneous pharmaceutical drug coating is investigated.     

Subwavelength resolution in a two-dimensional photonic-crystal-based superlens

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate single-beam negative refraction and superlensing in the valence band of a two-dimensional photonic crystal operating in the microwave regime. By measuring the refracted electromagnetic waves from a slab shaped photonic crystal, we find a refractive index of -1.94 that is very close to the theoretical value of -2.06. A scanning transmission measurement technique is used to measure the spatial power distribution of the focused electromagnetic waves that radiate from a point source. The full width at half maximum of the focused beam is measured to be 0.21 lambda, which is in good agreement with the finite difference time domain method simulations. We also report a subwavelength resolution for the image of two incoherent point sources, which are separated by a distance of lambda/3.     

Universal features of the time evolution of evanescent modes in a left-handed perfect lens

The time evolution of evanescent modes in Pendry's perfect lens proposal for ideally lossless and homogeneous, left-handed materials is analyzed. We show that time development of subwavelength resolution exhibits universal features, independent of model details. This is due to the unavoidable near degeneracy of surface electromagnetic modes in the deep subwavelength region. By means of a mechanical analog, it is shown that an intrinsic time scale (missed in stationary studies) has to be associated with any desired lateral resolution. A time-dependent cutoff length emerges, removing the problem of divergences claimed to invalidate Pendry's proposal.     

Demagnifying high-resolution imaging based on a new system for nanolithography

A novel subdiffraction-limited photolithography design with demagnification and high contrast features has been presented in this paper. Alternating phase shift mask (Alt-PSM) is not only used for shifting phase between adjacent aperture pairs through the phase shifter, but also it enhances the transmission by the interference of diffracted evanescent waves from subwavelength apertures at the surface. Research results show that the combination of Alt-PSM and planar hyperlens can realize subwavelength plane-to-plane imaging beyond the diffraction limit. Furthermore, with a well-proportioned reduction factor of 2, the resolution down to 60 nm can be easily attained from an Alt-PSM with 255 nm period at a working wavelength of 365 nm. Actually finer resolution can be obtained if we properly optimize the parameters of the mask and the planar hyperlens.