An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional light intensity distribution comprising a spatially limited area of minimum light intensity that is enclosed by areas of higher light intensity, the apparatus comprising: - two objectives (2 and 3) - which are facing each other on a common optical axis, - which focus light coming out of opposite directions into a common focal area, and - which each have a pupil (40, 50), - at least one light source (8, 81), and - a first pair of beam paths (13, 14) each extending from the at least one light source (8, 81), through one of the objectives (2, 3) and to the common focal area, wherein light intensities of a first pair of coherent light beams (9, 10) each coming from the at least one light source (8, 81) and running along one of the beam paths (13, 14) of the first pair of beam paths extinguish each other in a first partial area of the focal area by destructive interference, - wherein the beam paths (13, 14) of the first pair of beam paths pass through the two objectives (2, 3) in a first pair of partial areas (41, 51) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) centered on opposite sides of the common optical axis, - wherein the apparatus further comprises a second pair of beam paths (15, 16) each extending from the at least one or a second light source (8, 22, 82) of the apparatus, through one of the objectives (2, 3) and to the common focal area, wherein light intensities of a second pair of coherent light beams (11, 12) each coming from the at least one or the second light source (8, 22, 82) and running along one of the beam paths (15, 16) of the second pair of beam paths extinguish each other in a second partial area of the focal area by destructive interference, - wherein the beam paths (15, 16) of the second pair of beam paths pass through the two objectives (2, 3) in a second pair of partial areas (42, 52) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) centered on opposite sides of the common optical axis, - wherein the second pair of partial areas (42, 52) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) are offset in rotation direction about the common optical axis with regard to the first pair of partial areas (41, 51) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3), and - wherein the light of the second pair of coherent light beams (11, 12) does not interfere with the light of the first pair of coherent light beams (9, 10). - two objectives (2 and 3) - which are facing each other on a common optical axis, - which focus light coming out of opposite directions into a common focal area, and - which each have a pupil (40, 50), - which are facing each other on a common optical axis, - which focus light coming out of opposite directions into a common focal area, and - which each have a pupil (40, 50), - at least one light source (8, 81), and - a first pair of beam paths (13, 14) each extending from the at least one light source (8, 81), through one of the objectives (2, 3) and to the common focal area, wherein light intensities of a first pair of coherent light beams (9, 10) each coming from the at least one light source (8, 81) and running along one of the beam paths (13, 14) of the first pair of beam paths extinguish each other in a first partial area of the focal area by destructive interference, - wherein the beam paths (13, 14) of the first pair of beam paths pass through the two objectives (2, 3) in a first pair of partial areas (41, 51) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) centered on opposite sides of the common optical axis, - wherein the apparatus further comprises a second pair of beam paths (15, 16) each extending from the at least one or a second light source (8, 22, 82) of the apparatus, through one of the objectives (2, 3) and to the common focal area, wherein light intensities of a second pair of coherent light beams (11, 12) each coming from the at least one or the second light source (8, 22, 82) and running along one of the beam paths (15, 16) of the second pair of beam paths extinguish each other in a second partial area of the focal area by destructive interference, - wherein the beam paths (15, 16) of the second pair of beam paths pass through the two objectives (2, 3) in a second pair of partial areas (42, 52) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) centered on opposite sides of the common optical axis, - wherein the second pair of partial areas (42, 52) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3) are offset in rotation direction about the common optical axis with regard to the first pair of partial areas (41, 51) of the pupils (40, 50) of the objectives (2, 3), and - wherein the light of the second pair of coherent light beams (11, 12) does not interfere with the light of the first pair of coherent light beams (9, 10).