Focusing of electromagnetic waves by a left-handed metamaterial flat lens

We present here the experimental results from research conducted on negative refraction and focusing by a two-dimensional (2D) left-handed metamaterial (LHM) slab. By measuring the refracted electromagnetic ( EM) waves from a LHM slab, we find an effective refractive index of -1.86. A 2D scanning transmission measurement technique is used to measure the intensity distribution of the EM waves that radiate from the point source. The flat lens behavior of a 2D LHM slab is demonstrated for two different point source distances of d(s) = 0.5 lambda and lambda. The full widths at half maximum of the focused beams are 0.36 lambda and 0.4 lambda, respectively, which are both below the diffraction limit. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.