Bacteriorhodopsin Spatial Light Modulator

Spatial light modulators (SLM's) are critical components of optical devices but currently show slow response times, low sensitivity, poor resolution and short lifetimes. Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is the best candidate for SLM's because it exhibits picosecond response, high quantum yield, sensitivity to low light intensities, photochemical stability and broad wavelength response. Highly-oriented BR films of optical quality are needed, but not available. Foster-Miller will team with a biotech company to purify BR by removing carotenoids, ionic species and other impurities. Then we will combine sol-gel processing with our successful BR film electric field orientation process to produce optically clear, BR/sol-gel (BR/SiO2) nanocomposite films that contain highly-oriented BR molecules locked-in-placed within a matrix or rigid glass. Br/SiO2 films will be more transparent than Br films and will show better SLM response due to their higher BR purity, orientation and concentration. Our team includes renowned BR experts and Foster-Miller laser physicists who have already electro-deposited oriented BR films. In Phase I, we will prepare oriented BR/SiO2 films of high optical quality, demonstrate improved sensitivity and resolution and begin design of the BR-SLM device. In Phase II, we will fabricate a compatible, working BR-SLM for system testing.