Focusing of electromagnetic waves by a left-handed metamaterial flat lens

We present here the experimental results from research conducted on negative refraction and focusing by a two-dimensional (2D) left-handed metamaterial (LHM) slab. By measuring the refracted electromagnetic (EM) waves from a LHM slab, we find an effective refractive index of -1.86. A 2D scanning transmission measurement technique is used to measure the intensity distribution of the EM waves that radiate from the point source. The flat lens behavior of a 2D LHM slab is demonstrated for two different point source distances of ds = 0.5λ and λ. The full widths at half maximum of the focused beams are 0.36λ and 0.4λ, respectively, which are both below the diffraction limit.

© 2005 Optical Society of America