A subwavelength resolution microwave/6.3 GHz camera based on a metamaterial absorber

The design, fabrication and characterization of a novel metamaterial absorber based camera with subwavelength spatial resolution are investigated. The proposed camera is featured with simple and lightweight design, easy portability, low cost, high resolution and sensitivity, and minimal image interference or distortion to the original field distribution. The imaging capability of the proposed camera was characterized in both near field and far field ranges. The experimental and simulated near field images both reveal that the camera produces qualitatively accurate images with negligible distortion to the original field distribution. The far field demonstration was done by coupling the designed camera with a microwave convex lens. The far field results further demonstrate that the camera can capture quantitatively accurate electromagnetic wave distribution in the diffraction limit. The proposed camera can be used in application such as non-destructive image and beam direction tracer.