Saturable absorption, wave mixing, and phase conjugation with bacteriorhodopsin

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.