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Metamaterial fibres for subdiffraction imaging and focusing at terahertz frequencies over optically long distances

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandro Tuniz

    (Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, The University of Sydney)

  • Korbinian J. Kaltenecker

    (Freiburg Materials Research Center, University of Freiburg
    French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis
    Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg)

  • Bernd M. Fischer

    (Freiburg Materials Research Center, University of Freiburg
    French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis)

  • Markus Walther

    (Freiburg Materials Research Center, University of Freiburg
    Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg)

  • Simon C. Fleming

    (Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, The University of Sydney)

  • Alexander Argyros

    (Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, The University of Sydney)

  • Boris T. Kuhlmey

    (Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, The University of Sydney
    Centre for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), The University of Sydney)

Abstract

Using conventional materials, the resolution of focusing and imaging devices is limited by diffraction to about half the wavelength of light, as high spatial frequencies do not propagate in isotropic materials. Wire array metamaterials, because of their extreme anisotropy, can beat this limit; however, focusing with these has only been demonstrated up to microwave frequencies and using propagation over a few wavelengths only. Here we show that the principle can be scaled to frequencies orders of magnitudes higher and to considerably longer propagation lengths. We demonstrate imaging through straight and tapered wire arrays operating in the terahertz spectrum, with unprecedented propagation of near field information over hundreds of wavelengths and focusing down to 1/28 of the wavelength with a net increase in power density. Applications could include in vivo terahertz-endoscopes with resolution compatible with imaging individual cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Tuniz & Korbinian J. Kaltenecker & Bernd M. Fischer & Markus Walther & Simon C. Fleming & Alexander Argyros & Boris T. Kuhlmey, 2013. "Metamaterial fibres for subdiffraction imaging and focusing at terahertz frequencies over optically long distances," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3706
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3706
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