Concept for detecting images with sub-wavelength resolution

1. A microscope with sub-wavelength resolution comprising:

a light source for monochromatic light with a predetermined wavelength;

an object carrier for an object to be examined; and

an image sensor comprising

an optical structure with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the optical structure comprising a negative refractive index; and

a pixel array extending along the second side of the optical structure at a predetermined distance,

wherein the first side of the optical structure of the image sensor is arranged at a near-field distance smaller than the wavelength of the monochromatic light to the object carrier.

2. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the optical structure is formed to transmit an evanescent field from the first side to the second side of the optical structure.

3. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the optical structure comprises a metamaterial.

4. The microscope according to claim 3 , wherein the metamaterial comprises a layer stack of dielectric layers and a metal layer with microapertures, with dimensions of the microapertures and distances between neighboring microapertures comprising orders of magnitude so that an evanescent field on the first side can be transmitted to the second side.

5. The microscope according to claim 4 , wherein the dimensions and distances are smaller than 1.2 μm.

6. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the optical structure comprises a photonic crystal.

7. The microscope according to claim 6 , wherein the photonic crystal is formed by a three-dimensional periodic structure, which comprises microelements the distances and dimensions of which comprise an order of magnitude so that an evanescent field on the first side can be transmitted to the second side.

8. The microscope according to claim 7 , wherein the three-dimensional, periodically arranged microelements are formed as split-ring resonators.

9. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel array comprises an array of PN junction sensors.

10. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel array is a photodiode array.

11. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance of the pixel array to the second side is adjusted so that an evanescent field transmitted from the first side to the second side and exiting the second side can be detected by the pixel array.

12. The microscope according to claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance is smaller than 1.2 μM.

13. A method of forming an image of an object, comprising:

illuminating the object, with a first side of an optical structure with a negative refractive index arranged at least at a near-field distance to the object, so that an evanescent field on the first side, which is modulated by the object, is transmitted to a second side of the optical structure opposite to the first side; and

detecting the evanescent field on the second side by a pixel array.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the object is illuminated by monochromatic light.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first side of the optical structure is arranged at a distance smaller than 1.2 μm from the object.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pixel array is arranged at a predetermined distance along the second side, wherein the predetermined distance of the pixel array from the second side is adjusted so that an evanescent field transmitted from the first side to the second side and exiting from the second side can be detected by the pixel array.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the predefined distance is smaller than 1.2 μm.

18. An optical apparatus for improving resolution of diffraction-limited optics, comprising:

diffraction-limited optics;

an optical structure with a negative refractive index, wherein a first side of the optical structure is arranged in an image plane of the diffraction-limited optics, and wherein the optical structure comprises neighboring metal layers with openings, wherein the openings comprise an opening expansion, and wherein a lateral offset of the openings of neighboring metal layers is smaller than the opening expansion, to achieve solid-angle selectivity of the optical structure; and

a pixel array extending at a predetermined distance along a second side of the optical structure opposite the first side.

19. The optical apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the openings of adjacent metal layers are on a common axis to achieve solid-angle selectivity of the optical structure.