Abstract
It is proposed that an array of metallic nanorods works as a lens to resolve objects with nanospatial resolution. The fluorescence or scattered light from molecules is plasmonically transferred through the rod array to reproduce the electric field distribution of the object in the other side. The field distributions are simulated by finite-difference time-domain algorithm. The spatial resolution was achieved to 40 nm given by the rod diameter and the array distance. It is found that the stacked arrangement of metallic nanorods resonates in broadband. This broadband resonance enables to generate a magnified image in color. The magnification is achieved by using much larger spacing between nanorods at the image plane compared with the object plane. Such a metallic nanolens has a potential to be a powerful imaging tool for the observation of individual viruses and molecules in the far-field.
