Holographic recording using two-photon-induced photopolymerization

Abstract.

Molecular excitation via the simultaneous absorption of two photons can lead to improved three-dimensional control of photochemical or photophysical processes due to the quadratic dependence of the absorption probability on the incident radiation intensity. This has lead to the development of improved three-dimensional fluorescence imaging, optical data storage, and microfabrication. The latter of these involves the fabrication of three-dimensional structures using a spatial variation in the incident intensity within a photopolymerizable resin. In the past, the translation of the focal plane of a tightly focused laser beam was used to induce localized photopolymerization and fabrication of three-dimensional structures. Here we report the first successful demonstration of large-area patterning via ultrafast holography-based two-photon polymerization of a commercially available optical resin and a large two-photon cross-section dye (AF380). This opens tremendous possibilities for the wide-spread use of two-photon absorption for the three-dimensional control of photoinduced processes.