Sub-diffraction-limit imaging by the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) induced in thin metal film lenses has been analyzed numerically. The SPP images are deteriorated by interference of plasmon fields in layered metal-dielectric structures. To obtain a clear imaging capability, the reflection and the transmission property of evanescent waves in the layered structures has been investigated by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. For verification, a full 3-dimensional analysis of large-scale layered structures demonstrated sub-wavelength images similar to those obtained in the recently reported experiments. The analysis has been extended further to a lithography of nano-scale images to predict the minimum possible size of the images resolved by the silver thin film lenses.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

1. J. B. Pendry, "Negative Refraction Makes a Perfect Lens," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3966-3969 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. N. Fang, H. Lee, C. Sun, and X. Zhang, "Sub-diffraction-Limited Optical Imaging with a Silver Superlens," Science 308, 534-537 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. D. O. S. Melville and R. J. Blaikie, "Super-resolution imaging through a planar silver layer," Opt. Express 13, 2127-2134 (2005). [CrossRef]
4. T. Taubner, D. Korobkin, Y. Urzhumov, G. Shvets, and R. Hillenbrand, "Near-field microscopy through a SiC superlens," Science 313, 1595 (2006). [CrossRef]
5. B. Wood, J. B. Pendry, and D. P. Tsai, "Directed subwavelength imaging using a layered metal-dielectric system," Phys. Rev. B 74, 115,116 (2006). [CrossRef]
6. T. Xu, Y. Zhao, J. Ma, C. Wang, J. Cui, C. Du, and X. Luo, "Sub-diffraction-limited interference photo lithography with metamaterials," Opt. Express 16, 13,579-13,584 (2008).
7. A. D. Rakić, A. B. Djurisić, J. M. Dlazar, and M. L. Majewski, "Optical properties of metallic films for verticalcavity optoelectronic devices," Appl. Opt. 37, 5271-5283 (1998).
8. A. Taflove and S. C. Hagness, Computational electrodynamics: the finite-difference time-domain method, 3rd ed. (Artech House, 2005) Chap. 9, pp. 361-383.
9. D. B. Shao and S. C. Chen, "Numerical simulation of surface-plasmon-assisted nanolithography," Opt. Express 13, 6964-6973 (2005). [CrossRef]
10. P. A. Belov and Y. Hao, "Subwavelength imaging at optical frequencies using a transmission device formed by a periodic layered metal-dielectric structure operating in the canalization regime," Phys. Rev. B 73, 113,110 (2006). [CrossRef]
11. H. Raether, Surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1988).
12. M. Fujii and P. Russer, "A Nonlinear and Dispersive APML ABC for the FD-TD Methods," IEEE Microw. Compon. Lett. 12, 444-446 (2002). [CrossRef]
13. N. Fang, Z. Liu, T.-J. Yen, and X. Zhang, "Regenerating evanescent waves from a silver superlens," Opt. Express 11, 682-687 (2003). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• A. D. Rakić, A. B. Djurisić, J. M. Dlazar, and M. L. Majewski, "Optical properties of metallic films for verticalcavity optoelectronic devices," Appl. Opt. 37, 5271-5283 (1998).

IEEE Microw. Compon. Lett.

• M. Fujii and P. Russer, "A Nonlinear and Dispersive APML ABC for the FD-TD Methods," IEEE Microw. Compon. Lett. 12, 444-446 (2002). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• N. Fang, Z. Liu, T.-J. Yen, and X. Zhang, "Regenerating evanescent waves from a silver superlens," Opt. Express 11, 682-687 (2003). [CrossRef]
• D. B. Shao and S. C. Chen, "Numerical simulation of surface-plasmon-assisted nanolithography," Opt. Express 13, 6964-6973 (2005). [CrossRef]
• T. Xu, Y. Zhao, J. Ma, C. Wang, J. Cui, C. Du, and X. Luo, "Sub-diffraction-limited interference photo lithography with metamaterials," Opt. Express 16, 13,579-13,584 (2008).
• D. O. S. Melville and R. J. Blaikie, "Super-resolution imaging through a planar silver layer," Opt. Express 13, 2127-2134 (2005). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. B

• B. Wood, J. B. Pendry, and D. P. Tsai, "Directed subwavelength imaging using a layered metal-dielectric system," Phys. Rev. B 74, 115,116 (2006). [CrossRef]
• P. A. Belov and Y. Hao, "Subwavelength imaging at optical frequencies using a transmission device formed by a periodic layered metal-dielectric structure operating in the canalization regime," Phys. Rev. B 73, 113,110 (2006). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• J. B. Pendry, "Negative Refraction Makes a Perfect Lens," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3966-3969 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

• N. Fang, H. Lee, C. Sun, and X. Zhang, "Sub-diffraction-Limited Optical Imaging with a Silver Superlens," Science 308, 534-537 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. Taubner, D. Korobkin, Y. Urzhumov, G. Shvets, and R. Hillenbrand, "Near-field microscopy through a SiC superlens," Science 313, 1595 (2006). [CrossRef]

Other

• A. Taflove and S. C. Hagness, Computational electrodynamics: the finite-difference time-domain method, 3rd ed. (Artech House, 2005) Chap. 9, pp. 361-383.
• H. Raether, Surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1988).

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