Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We report on a conceptual framework for optical imaging utilizing exclusively evanescent fields, effectively eliminating or attenuating standard optical diffraction. We present the theoretical foundation of this concept based on the decomposition of dipole radiation into evanescent fields and homogeneous propagating waves, exploring the explicit conditions required to suppress the latter. By successfully decoupling and removing the homogeneous component, optical tasks, such as sub-diffraction imaging, can be executed solely via evanescent channels, bypassing traditional diffractive limits. We discuss the physical feasibility of this approach and provide concrete examples of how this conjecture can be realized using currently available laboratory and industrial techniques. The realization of this concept promises to redefine core paradigms in optics and fundamental physics. Because the minimum achievable feature size is no longer governed by the operating wavelength, this approach enables an unprecedented increase in spatial resolution, offering a direct pathway to advance state-of-the-art semiconductor lithography and chip manufacturing.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Author: Xiao, Mufei
Institution: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223955177