Sub-wavelength imaging at infrared frequencies using an array of metallic nanorods

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that an array of metallic nanorods can achieve sub-wavelength infrared imaging with high resolution and low attenuation, supported by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a homogenization-based theoretical framework and numerical validation for sub-wavelength imaging using metallic nanorod arrays at infrared frequencies.

Findings

Achieves λ/10 resolution at 30 THz using silver nanorods.

Transmission occurs over significant distances with low attenuation.

Imaging performance is robust against material losses and broadband.

Abstract

We demonstrate that an array of metallic nanorods enables sub-wavelength (near-field) imaging at infrared frequencies. Using an homogenization approach, it is theoretically proved that under certain conditions the incoming radiation can be transmitted by the array of nanorods over a significant distance with fairly low attenuation. The propagation mechanism does not involve a resonance of material parameters and thus the resolution is not strongly affected by material losses and has wide bandwidth. The sub-wavelength imaging with $\lambda/10$ resolution by silver rods at 30 THz is demonstrated numerically using full-wave electromagnetic simulator.