Scattering lens resolves sub-100 nm structures with visible light

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 May 13;106(19):193905. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.193905. Epub 2011 May 13.

Abstract

The smallest structures that conventional lenses are able to optically resolve are of the order of 200 nm. We introduce a new type of lens that exploits multiple scattering of light to generate a scanning nanosized optical focus. With an experimental realization of this lens in gallium phosphide we imaged gold nanoparticles at 97 nm optical resolution. Our work is the first lens that provides a resolution better than 100 nm at visible wavelengths.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Equipment Design
  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Lenses*
  • Light*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Phosphines / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation*

Substances

  • Phosphines
  • gallium phosphide
  • Gold
  • Gallium