On the nature of super-resolution in inverse scattering

Abstract

This work studies the nature of super-resolution, the phenomenon of resolution beyond the diffraction limit, which has been experimentally and numerically verified for acoustic and electromagnetic waves. The prospect of subwavelength resolution at optically large observation distances is investigated. Two conjectures as to how super-resolution can be attained are evaluated and tested. The first conjecture underscores the unraveling of the phase accumulations during multiple scattering of propagating waves whereas the second relies on the conversion of evanescent spectrum to propagating waves that can be observed at the far-field.