Magnification of subwavelength field distributions using a tapered array of wires operating in the canalization regime

In this paper we have demonstrated simultaneous transmission and magnification of subwavelength field distributions in the microwave regime using a wire medium slab (see Ikonen et al. (2007) for more details). The structure consists of an array of metal wires, and the separation between adjacent wires is radially enlarged. We were able to numerically demonstrate transmission of the near field distribution of a complex-shaped source over a distance corresponding roughly to 3lambda, together with magnification of the distribution by a factor of three. Simulation results showing the operation of the slab at several frequencies deviating from the operational frequency have been presented and analyzed. In addition to the magnification effect the proposed slab could be utilized in the opposite way: electrically large source distributions can be decreased by simply placing the source in front of the larger slab interface. In this case the source distribution is canalized across the slab, and the characteristic dimensions of the distribution are simultaneously decreased by a certain factor.