Phase space analysis of metamaterial-based optical systems

Abstract Phase space analysis of light refraction in optical systems consisting of slabs or thin lenses from either metamaterials with negative refractive indices or common materials is performed with the aim of finding the conditions of perfect imaging for metamaterial-based optical systems. The analysis in the paraxial approximation uses ABCD matrices, whereas full ray tracing is employed in the non-paraxial case. The phase space analysis reveals that the ideality of planar metamaterial lenses only occurs when the absolute value of the refractive index in metamaterials is the same as in the surrounding medium.