Flat lens without optical axis: Theory of imaging

Abstract

We derive a general theory for imaging by a flat lens without optical axis. We show that the condition for imaging requires a material having elliptic dispersion relations with negative group refraction, equivalent to an effective anisotropic refractive index n(theta). Imaging can be achieved with both negative (n<0) and positive (n>0) refractive indices. The Veselago-Pendry lens is a special case with isotropic negative refractive index of n(theta)=-1. Realizations of the imaging conditions using anisotropic media and inhomogeneous media, particularly photonic crystals, are discussed. Numerical examples of imaging and requirements for sub-wavelength imaging are also presented.

5 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Media with Indefinite Permittivity and Permeability Tensors
• A gradient index metamaterial
• Negative Refraction and Left-handed electromagnetism in Microwave Photonic Crystals

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Metamaterial-Enhanced Coupling between Magnetic Dipoles for Efficient Wireless Power Transfer
• Superlens imaging theory for anisotropic nanostructured metamaterials with broadband all-angle negative refraction
• Nanowire waveguide made from extremely anisotropic metamaterials
• Evidence of local effects in anomalous refraction and focusing properties of dodecagonal photonic quasicrystals
• Alternative approach to all-angle negative refraction in two-dimensional photonic crystals
• A parametric study of the lensing properties of dodecagonal photonic quasicrystals