Holographic multi-focus 3D two-photon polymerization with real-time calculated holograms.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optics and Photonics
• Microfabrication

Background:

• Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a high-resolution 3D printing technique.
• Spatial light modulators (SLMs) enable holographic beam shaping for parallel fabrication.
• Current methods often focus on fabricating multiple separate microstructures simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate parallel TPP of single, complex 3D microstructures.
• To utilize multiple holographically translated foci for coordinated fabrication.
• To improve efficiency in creating intricate microscale objects.

Main Methods:

• Holographic beam shaping using phase holograms calculated on an NVIDIA CUDA GPU.
• Real-time display of holograms on an electronically addressed SLM.
• Parallel and coordinated movement of five holographic foci to build a 3D microstructure.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of a 3D microstructure composed of nested dodecahedron frames.
• Demonstrated parallel construction of a single 3D object using multiple foci.
• Achieved high uniformity and reproducibility of microstructural features.

Conclusions:

• Parallel TPP of single 3D microstructures is feasible using coordinated holographic foci.
• This technique offers enhanced speed and precision for fabricating complex micro-optics and micro-devices.
• Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the quality and accuracy of the fabricated microstructures.