Subwavelength optical microscopy of nanostructured objects on the surface of an optical metamaterial with a zero refractive index

Abstract

It has been proven theoretically that light reflected from the surface of an optical metamaterial with a zero refractive index is focused in the area of a focal spot with a radius of λ / 16, where λ is the wavelength of light. It is shown that at a zero refractive index, the laws of refraction and reflection of light are violated, the angles of refraction and reflection become random quantities. The reflectivity of the surface in the region of the focal spot is calculated in the presence of a diatomic nanostructured object on the surface. It is shown that the size of the focal spot increases with the distance from the center of the focal spot from the surface. In this case, an image of a nanostructured object can be obtained.

Keywords

• nanostructures
• optical metamaterial
• zero refractive index
• focal spot