Electric-field measurements inside a negative-permeability-positive-permittivity metamaterial composed of arrays of split-ring resonators directly show that the theoretically predicted enhancement of evanescent waves in passive materials is physically realizable. To circumvent the extreme sensitivity of this phenomenon to the material parameters, we show how the basic phenomenon occurs under relaxed conditions for a single transverse wave number and use this approach in our measurements. Measurements of the spatial distribution of the electric field in a three-slab configuration confirm that the evanescent wave enhancement responsible for the subwavelength focusing effect occurs in an electromagnetic material in a manner in close agreement with theory.

• Received 22 June 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.016617