Imaging properties of a photonic crystal superlens

Abstract

We numerically investigate, the unique features of imaging by a superlens made of a photonic crystal slab that possesses the property of negative refraction. We confirm earlier finding that a photonic crystal slab lens can provide the imaging of a point source. We prove that the resolution of such a slab lens can be improved by optimizing the air hole radius as well as the refractive index of the high index material. It is found that by decreasing the radius of the air holes, the spatial resolution is improved significantly. It is also shown that for the case of two sources, the resolution of such a photonic crystal lens can be made indeed better than the radiation wavelength. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is used in our numerical simulations.