Split-Aperture Xolography – Linear Volumetric Photoactivation with Short Axial Dimension and Low out of Focus Excitation
- Spatially confined photo-excitation with the lowest possible activation of the remaining volume is of central importance for high-resolution high-density optical data storage, fluorescence microscopy, 3D-lithography, and 3D-printing. Two-photon absorption (2PA) enables such applications yet leads to slow processing speed due to the underlying non-linear absorption process. Here, Split-Aperture Xolography (SAX), is introduced which uses stepwise excitation of dual-color responsive molecules to initiate a linear volumetric photo-reaction process that is up to several orders of magnitude more efficient than 2PA. The capabilities of SAX are investigated in a scenario study for focusing systems with high numerical aperture (NA) using a Python implementation of vectorial diffraction theory. The intersecting half-cones generated by the split illuminated entrance aperture of the objective reduce the axial focal spot size of the activation distribution by up to a factor of two compared to 2PA targeting the same electronic transition. A steep average decline of the activation probability with the fifth power away from focus is found for a wide range of directions. This is significantly better in comparison to 2PA and prevents that undesired out-of-focus excitation events sum-up with subsequent irradiations. This approach is expected to be advantageous for volumetric methods at the nanoscale.
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-20749 |
|---|---|
| Publisher DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416105 |
| Author: | Martin RegehlyORCiDGND, Stefan HechtORCiD |
| Parent Title (English): | Advanced Science |
| Document Type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Year of Publication: | 2025 |
| Volume: | 12 |
| Issue: | 31 |
| Article Number: | e16105 |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| Faculties an central facilities: | Fachbereich Ingenieur- und Naturwissenschaften |
| Publishing Institution: | Technische Hochschule Wildau |
| Tag: | photoswitch; split-aperture xolography; two-photon absorption; vectorial diffraction; volumetric 3D printing |
| Source: | M. Regehly, S. Hecht, Split-Aperture Xolography – Linear Volumetric Photoactivation with Short Axial Dimension and Low out of Focus Excitation. Adv. Sci. 2025, 12, e16105. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416105 |
| Dewey Decimal Classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 535 Licht, Infrarot- und Ultraviolettphänomene |
| 6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 62 Ingenieurwissenschaften / 621 Angewandte Physik | |
| Licence (German): | Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
| Release Date: | 2025/09/09 |



