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Abstract
It is shown that a system of two coupled planar material sheets possessing surface
mode (polariton) resonances can be used for the purpose of evanescent field restoration
and, thus, for the sub-wavelength near-field imaging. The sheets are placed in free
space so that they are parallel and separated by a certain distance. Due to interaction
of the resonating surface modes (polaritons) of the sheets an exponential growth in
the amplitude of an evanescent plane wave coming through the system can be achieved.
This effect was predicted earlier for backward-wave (double-negative or Veselago)
slab lenses. The alternative system considered here is proved to be realizable at
microwaves by grids or arrays of resonant particles. The necessary electromagnetic
properties of the resonating grids and the particles are investigated and established.
Theoretical results are supported by microwave experiments that demonstrate amplification
of evanescent modes.