Sub-wavelength resolution in linear arrays of plasmonic particles

Recently, we suggested the idea of an optical superlens based on the extraordinary dispersion properties of plasmonic nanochains. In the present paper we discuss the results of numerical simulations of the imaging of point sources in this superlens. The simulations show that sub-wavelength resolution can be obtained in much thicker structures than usual. A distance of nearly lambda/2 between the source and the image plane is achieved. In addition the effects of stochastic deviations in geometrical parameters are studied.(c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.