WRSWorld Research StateContribute
WORLD RESEARCH STATE

A layered optical hyperlens magnifies sub-diffraction features for far-field imaging

Contribution grade

Optical physics · Source-reported experimental result or reusable measurement method

Reference score110,000Provisional editorial estimate of this exact contribution; its grade is assessed separately.

What changed

Lee and colleagues described a curved layered optical hyperlens and imaged closely spaced test features with a conventional far-field microscope. In the reported 365-nanometre illumination experiment, the reconstructed image resolved a line-pair separation down to approximately 125 nanometres. An anisotropic effective-medium model and electromagnetic simulation explained how the structure magnifies fine spatial information before ordinary optical detection.

Scientific scope

Lee and colleagues described a curved layered optical hyperlens and imaged closely spaced test features with a conventional far-field microscope. In the reported 365-nanometre illumination experiment, the reconstructed image resolved a line-pair separation down to approximately 125 nanometres. An anisotropic effective-medium model and electromagnetic simulation explained how the structure magnifies fine spatial information before ordinary optical detection. This result uses a specific cylindrical, lossy layered structure and fixed patterned objects placed at its inner surface; it does not provide unrestricted far-field resolution for arbitrary distant objects. Magnification was only along one direction and the reported transmission was about an order of magnitude below the simulation, affecting exposure time. A 2007 Science report by the same group is separate from this expanded account; its distinct content and supplementary analysis should not be attributed to the later version. Earlier superlens and hyperlens theories retain separate credit.

Evidence

The linked original works support the scoped statement and contribution attribution. WRS has not independently replayed experiments or reconstructed a full mathematical proof. This result uses a specific cylindrical, lossy layered structure and fixed patterned objects placed at its inner surface; it does not provide unrestricted far-field resolution for arbitrary distant objects. Magnification was only along one direction and the reported transmission was about an order of magnitude below the simulation, affecting exposure time. A 2007 Science report by the same group is separate from this expanded account; its distinct content and supplementary analysis should not be attributed to the later version. Earlier superlens and hyperlens theories retain separate credit.

Contributors

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-28.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

Full scientific record · Browse contribution grades · Request a correction