Creating 3D Structures with Light

[Clare S]

A research team at Southern Methodist University under the direction of Associate Professor of Chemistry Alexander Lippert has developed the capability to display 3D structured light. Not to be confused with a hologram or the tricks on the mind played during 3D movies, the device, called The Light Pad, uses UV light to cause a particular molecule, known as the photoswitch, to change from fluorescent to clear. The addition of the chemical amine base triethylamine, the molecules are able to change from lighted to clear nearly instantaneously so that animated light structures can be created. Read more at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/185341/photoswitc...ules-3d-light/

[awerby]

This is pretty cool - it's nice to see a fundamental advance in technology that's breaking new ground, not just tinkering around the edges. It's a lot less cumbersome than holography, and is much closer to real 3D imaging than the visual effects often erroneously called holograms. I can't wait to see what they do with it - although if they really do get the Defense funding they're looking for, it will probably be classified...

[curious aardvark]

Holo-tank :-)
Very cool.