Examination of metamaterial solid immersion lenses for subwavelength optical manipulation

Abstract

We theoretically inspect, whether a recently proposed metamaterial solid immersion lens (a cluster of closely packed nanospheres) possesses super-resolving properties that could be used for subwavelength optical manipulation. Harnessing the multiple scattering theory for assembly of electric dipoles, we investigate the evanescent-wave and point-source-radiation transmission through the slab of nanospheres to establish the mechanism of super-resolution. Our calculations do not confirm resolution of subwavelength details using the metamaterial solid immersion lens.