Optical near-field microscopy of light focusing through a photonic crystal flat lens

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Aug 15;101(7):073901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.073901. Epub 2008 Aug 11.

Abstract

We report here the direct observation by using a scanning near-field microscopy technique of the light focusing through a photonic crystal flat lens designed and fabricated to operate at optical frequencies. The lens is fabricated using a III-V semiconductor slab, and we directly visualize the propagation of the electromagnetic waves by using a scanning near-field optical microscope. We directly evidence spatially, as well as spectrally, the focusing operating regime of the lens. At last, in light of the experimental scanning near-field optical microscope pictures, we discuss the lens ability to focus light at a subwavelength scale.