Use of continuous-wave illumination for two-photon three-dimensional optical bit data storage in a photobleaching polymer

We show that a continuous-wave laser beam at an infrared wavelength of 800 nm can be used fur two-photon three-dimensional bit data storage in a photobleaching polymer. We successfully demonstrate recording and reading of six layers of data bits with a transverse bit separation of 4.3 mu m and an axial layer separation of 20 mu m. This result leads to a three-dimensional bit density of approximately 3 Gbits/cm(3). (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.