Parity-time symmetric plasmonic planar superlens

A superlens which involves plasmonic mode could compensate for the loss of high spatial frequency information and achieve super-resolution. However, their working distance is limited to near field region due to the intrinsic loss of metal and the imaging properties are usually distorted by the experimental errors. We investigate a layered planar superlens structure with parity-time (PT) symmetric potential. By utilizing the transfer matrix method, we observe the eigenspectrum of plasmonic mode depends on PT potential. Numerical simulation results, obtained by using the Finite Element Method, show that the working distance of super-resolution can be increased in the PT symmetric superlens. In addition, the resolution could be improved by adjusting the PT symmetric potential, demonstrating the PT symmetry introduced a great advantage of robustness to experimental errors.

Automated summary

The study investigates a layered planar superlens with parity-time (PT) symmetric potential, where adjusting the PT symmetric potential can improve super-resolution and increase working distance. The Eigenspectrum of plasmonic mode depends on PT potential, and the PT symmetry introduces robustness to experimental errors.