The effect of the appearance of 'phantom sources' in a theoretical model of an image formed by an ideal Veselago lens has been investigated by transformation optics (TO) methods. It is shown that this effect cannot be used to explain the mechanism of superlensing. A method is proposed for eliminating phantom sources in the construction of image models by TO methods. An expression is given for the electromagnetic field which forms an ideal image of a point radiation source when its distance from the front surface of the lens is equal to its thickness. An explanation is given as to why a rigorous model of the ideal image of a dipole source cannot be constructed if the distance between the source and the lens is shorter than its thickness.

Correspondence should be addressed to Keywords: image, transformation optics, superlensing, ideal Veselago lens, phantom sources, dipole sources, ideal image model PACS: 42.30.Va DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2023.01.039317 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2023/8/e/ 001112646900005 2-s2.0-85182877695 2023PhyU...66..846D Citation: Dolin L S "On the role of phantom sources in the theory of superlenses" Phys. Usp. 66 846–851 (2023) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 4th, March 2022, revised: 22nd, January 2023, accepted: 23rd, January 2023 Оригинал: Долин Л С «О роли фантомных источников в теории суперлинз» УФН 193 902–908 (2023); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2023.01.039317