title: Negative refraction and sub-wavelength focusing in the visible range using transparent metallo-dielectric stacks.
abstract: We numerically demonstrate negative refraction of the Poynting vector and sub-wavelength focusing in the visible part of the spectrum using a transparent multilayer, metallo-dielectric photonic band gap structure. Our results reveal that in the wavelength regime of interest evanescent waves are not transmitted by the structure, and that the main underlying physical mechanisms for sub-wavelength focusing are resonance tunneling, field localization, and propagation effects. These structures offer several advantages: tunability and high transmittance (50% or better) across the visible and near IR ranges; large object-image distances, with image planes located beyond the range where the evanescent waves have decayed. From a practical point of view, our findings point to a simpler way to fabricate a material that exhibits negative refraction and maintains high transparency across a broad wavelength range. Transparent metallo-dielectric stacks also provide an opportunity to expand the exploration of wave propagation phenomena in metals, both in the linear and nonlinear regimes.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scalora
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Aguanno
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mattiucci
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bloemer
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Ceglia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandatori
authors.forename: Concita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sibilia
authors.forename: Neset
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akozbek
authors.forename: Mirko G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cappeddu
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Joseph W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Haus