Evolution of quantum superoscillations and optical superresolution without evanescent waves

Abstract

A superoscillatory function—that is, a band-limited function f(x) oscillating faster than its fastest Fourier component—is taken to be the initial state of a freely-evolving quantum wavefunction ψ. The superoscillations persist for unexpectedly long times, but eventually disappear through the interaction of contributions to ψ with complex momenta that are exponentially disparate in magnitude; this is established by applying the asymptotics of integrals, supported by numerics. f(x) can alternatively be regarded as the wave generated by a diffraction grating, propagating paraxially and without evanescence as ψ in the space beyond. The persistence of superoscillations is then interpreted as the propagation of sub-wavelength structure farther into the field than the more familiar evanescent waves.