Much of the development of 3D optical data storage has been carried out in universities. The groups that have provided valuable input include:
*Peter T. Rentzepis was the originator of this field, and has recently developed materials free from destructive readout.
*Watt W. Webb codeveloped the two-photon microscope in Bell Labs, and showed 3D recording on photorefractive media.
*Masahiro Irie developed the diarylethene family of photochromic materials.
*Yoshimasa Kawata, Satoshi Kawata, and Zouheir Sekkat have developed and worked on several optical data manipulation systems, in particular involving poled polymer systems.
*Kevin C Belfield is developing photochemical systems for 3D optical data storage by the use of resonance energy transfer between molecules, and also develops high two–photon cross-section materials.
*Seth Marder performed much of the early work developing logical approaches to the molecular design of high two–photon cross-section chromophores.
*Tom Milster has made many contributions to the theory of 3D optical data storage.
*Robert McLeod has examined the use of microholograms for 3D optical data storage.
*Min Gu has examined confocal readout and methods for its enhancement.