Subwavelength microwave imaging using an array of parallel conducting wires as a lens

Pavel A. Belov, Yang Hao, Sunil Sudhakaran

Physical Review B · 2006 · 254 citations · 23 references

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TL;DR

Canalization, a regime inherent to flat electromagnetic crystal lenses, enables sub‑wavelength imaging. The study proposes an original lens that transmits images with sub‑wavelength resolution. The lens, composed of parallel conducting wires, acts as a telegraph that captures and transmits images without distortion, with performance supported by theory, simulations, and experiments. The lens achieves λ/15 resolution and 18 % bandwidth at gigahertz frequencies, and can transport sub‑wavelength images over essentially unlimited distances with negligible loss.

Abstract

Original realization of a lens capable to transmit images with sub-wavelength resolution is proposed. The lens is formed by parallel conducting wires and effectively operates as a telegraph: it captures image at the front interface and the transmit it to the back interface without distortion. This regime of operation is called canalization and is inherent in flat lenses formed by electromagnetic crystals. The theoretical estimations are supported by numerical simulations and experimental verification. Sub-wavelength resolution of $\lambda/15$ and 18% bandwidth of operation are demonstrated at gigahertz frequencies. The proposed lens is capable to transport sub-wavelength images without distortion to nearly unlimited distances since the influence of losses to the lens operation is negligibly small.

References

23