Expanding Microwave Confocal Microscope Method through Metamaterials and Modality of Object’s Physical Properties

Abstract

The quality of tomographic images formed from diffracting waves deteriorated due to the limitations in capturing evanescent waves. The waves carried detailed information about the body being imaged. Metamaterials were being recently used to amplify and focus evanescent waves. Here, the physical characteristics of a superlens made out of a metamaterial slab were studied. A detailed derivation of the equations for wave propagation inside the metamaterial was shown. The effect of changing the real and imaginary parts of the permittivity and permeability of a superlens were examined. The dependence of the cut-off frequency of a superlens on the thickness of the slab was discussed. Suitable physical dimensions of a superlens were proposed for cross sectional imaging of Aluminum rods. Simulations were done to test the validity of the proposed solution. Simulations showed that a metamaterial slab of Silver could be successfully used in imaging two rods.