[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 8, No. 5 (2001) 368-372]
Grating Formation in 13-demethyl Bacteriorhodopsin Film
J. VANHANEN1,*, S. PARKKINEN2, V. P. LEPPANEN1, T. JAASKELAINEN1 and J. P. S. PARKKINEN3
1Department of Physics, Väisälä Laboratory, 2Department of Biology, 3Department of Computer Science, University of Joensuu, P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101, Joensuu, Finland
(Received December 21, 2000; Accepted May 15, 2001)
Holographic properties of a 13-demethyl retinal bacteriorhodopsin (13-demethyl BR) film in gelatin matrix were investigated and compared to those of a native bacteriorhodopsin (BRWT) film. A two-wave mixing experiment was performed to study the self-diffraction efficiency of the samples. The rise and the decay of the grating in the 13-demethyl BR film was measured. The film is relatively slow enabling the recording of simultaneous gratings. Phase conjugate reflectivity was measured by a four-wave mixing experiment. Diffraction efficiency and phase conjugate reflectivity of the 13-demethyl BR film were observed to be comparable to those of the BRWT film.
Key words : bacteriorhodopsin, halobacterium salinarium, retinal analogues, 13-demethyl retinal, self-diffraction, diffraction efficiency, phase conjugation