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Sub–Diffraction-Limited Optical Imaging with a Silver Superlens
Nicholas Fang,Hyesog Lee,Cheng Sun,Xiang Zhang*
Recent theory has predicted a superlens that is capable of producingsub–diffraction-limited images. This superlens would allowthe recovery of evanescent waves in an image via the excitationof surface plasmons. Using silver as a natural optical superlens,we demonstrated sub–diffraction-limited imaging with 60-nanometerhalf-pitch resolution, or one-sixth of the illumination wavelength.By proper design of the working wavelength and the thicknessof silver that allows access to a broad spectrum of subwavelengthfeatures, we also showed that arbitrary nanostructures can beimaged with good fidelity. The optical superlens promises excitingavenues to nanoscale optical imaging and ultrasmall optoelectronicdevices.
5130 Etcheverry Hall, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720–1740, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: xiang{at}berkeley.edu
