Left-handed wave propagation in rod media

Left-handed wave propagation in metamaterials comprised of an array of metallic rods thinned at their centers is discussed. It is shown that the rod media support left-handed waves when the density of the rods is large, whereas they support right-handed waves and work as artificial dielectrics when the density is small. The wave propagation of the media is discussed in terms of dispersion relation and the Bloch impedance by full-wave simulations. A negative refractive slab super lens is presented and focusing effect exceeding the diffraction limit will be demonstrated numerically.