Accurate modelling of the optical properties of left-handed media using a finite-difference time-domain method

We have demonstrated that the conventional FDTD method for modelling of LHM leads to inaccurate description of high-order evanescent waves and does not simulate subwavelength imaging correctly. The simulations suffer from the artefact of ´numerical surface plasmons´ which appear at the interfaces of LHM. In order to solve this problem and ensure accurate FDTD modelling, a spatial averaging scheme at the boundaries has been proposed. This technique has been tested on the analytically solvable example of a plane wave propagation through an infinite LHM slab and extremely good accuracy of simulation has been revealed for all angles of incidence including high-order evanescent waves. The simulations of finite- sized slabs of LHM demonstrate that there are no restrictions on the functionality of LHM lenses due to their finite transverse dimensions.