Cylindrical Superlens by a Coordinate Transformation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cylindrical perfect lens derived from coordinate transformation, demonstrating subwavelength focusing, magnification capabilities, and potential applications in imaging, lithography, and electromagnetic probing.

Contribution

It proposes a novel cylindrical lens design based on coordinate transformation, extending the perfect slab lens concept and analyzing its properties and advantages.

Findings

Numerical confirmation of subwavelength focusing

Cylindrical lens offers magnification and demagnification

Comparison shows cylindrical lens as a limiting form of slab lens

Abstract

Cylinder-shaped perfect lens deduced from the coordinate transformation method is proposed. The previously reported perfect slab lens is noticed to be a limiting form of the cylindrical lens when the inner radius approaches infinity with respect to the lens thickness. Connaturality between a cylindrical lens and a slab lens is affirmed by comparing their eigenfield transfer functions. We numerically confirm the subwavelength focusing capability of such a cylindrical lens with consideration of material imperfection. Compared to a slab lens, a cylindrical lens has several advantages, including finiteness in cross-section, and ability in lensing with magnification or demagnification. Immediate applications of such a cylindrical lens can be in high-resolution imaging and lithography technologies. In addition, its invisibility property suggests that it may be valuable for non-invasive electromagnetic probing.