Abstract
The metamaterial superlenses for imaging proteins, viruses, and DNA have to present a high resolution, which cannot be ensured by classical lenses. Such a material for lenses exceeds the Abbe-Rayleigh diffraction limit, leading to a nanoscale level of resolution, a several times better than the classical diffraction limits. We have illustrated here a hotspot size of ca. 0.25 – 0.28 λ, corresponding to a numerical aperture of about 1.4. The used metamaterial structures are isotropic negative index metamaterials (NIMs), with negligible losses. Material combinations of metallic nanoparticles (with dimensions of tens of nm) inserted in a dielectric slab have been considered for study. Microcomponents periodicity in the layer is of a few hundred of naometers. Material properties evolve in function of the constituent's nature and dimensions. Refraction index in function of wavelength was determined and represented on graphs in order to illustrate the domain of negative values and the manner in which it can be controlled at structure level. Analysis was performed in visible and IR range by simulation methods, using the HFSS program and a proper algorithm based on physical considerations.
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