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

Abstract

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.