Abstract
We report a convenient method to obtain all-optical light modulation in bacteriorhodopsin films using a degenerate four-wave mixing geometry. Chemically stabilized films of bacteriorhodopsin in a polymer matrix for which the lifetime of the excited M state is tens of seconds were used to demonstrate all-optical light intensity modulation. The films are observed to be stable over a period of 4 years. Due to the sensitivity of the films, small intensities of order microwatt/ cm2 are required in the modulation experiments. Furthermore the fast photochemical transition from M to B permit reasonably fast modulation speeds independent of the slow thermal M and B relaxation time. The experimental system also acts as an all-optical switch where a low power blue pulse turns on a signal red beam.
Highlights
The photochromic protein bacteriorhodopsinbRwhich is related to the visual pigment rhodopsin contained in the cone cells of the human retina[1] has shown great promise as a candidate material for applications in photonics technology
Light modulation plays a fundamental role in the development of optical and optoelectronic systems for future information technologies
In this letter we report a convenient method of obtaining all-optical light modulation in chemically stabilized bR dispersed in polyacrylamide gel and cast into thin films at the Natick labs
Summary
The photochromic protein bacteriorhodopsinbRwhich is related to the visual pigment rhodopsin contained in the cone cells of the human retina[1] has shown great promise as a candidate material for applications in photonics technology. In this letter we report a convenient method of obtaining all-optical light modulation in chemically stabilized bR dispersed in polyacrylamide gel and cast into thin films at the Natick labs.
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