Calculation of Imaging Properties of Metamaterials

Metamaterials have extraordinary optical properties, which can be utilized in novel imaging systems. Their imaging properties, however, cannot be determined by simple geometrical optics. Here we propose a method that combines full wave simulation, transfer matrix method and geometrical optics to efficiently simulate imaging systems containing metamaterials. The dispersion relation of a periodic metamaterial slab is retrieved from the S-parameters obtained from full wave simulation of the unit cell. The dispersion relation can be connected with numerical field solvers, e.g. the transfer matrix method, to calculate the field produced by a point source placed behind a metamaterial slab. Finally, light rays are derived from the full wave solution to obtain the virtual image of the point source. From the virtual distance an effective geometrical refractive index is determined, which characterizes the imaging properties of the metamaterial. Using the developed procedure, imaging possibilities with fishnet metamaterials are investigated