Abstract

Bacteriorhodopsin exhibits strong nonlinear and saturation behavior with very low light intensities (∼10 mW/cm²). A model and an experimental study of the saturation are described. Four-wave mixing experiments are used for obtaining phase conjugation and information on the holographic resolution of the material. Two kinds of samples were prepared and used in the experiments: films of bacteriorhodopsin in a solid polyvinylalcohol (polymer) matrix and in water.

© 1990 Optical Society of America

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