EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION 3D SUB-WAVELENGTH RESOLUTION BEYOND THE DIFFRACTION LIMIT WITH ZONE PLATE IN MILLIMETER WAVE

The results of experimental investigations of resolution power of millimeter-wave phase reversal binary Fresnel zone plate with short focal distance F <= 2 lambda are described. It has been experimentally shown that in the near-field of single diffractive lens with subwavelength focal distance F <= lambda without the immersion medium a resolution of 0.3-0.4 lambda were obtained. The Abbe barrier can be completely broken by such diffractive lenses with unique three-dimensional super resolution. Also it was experimentally shown the focal spot in the high numerical aperture diffractive lenses is no longer an Airy pattern and focal intensity distribution is not circularly symmetric. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.