Molecular Holographic Sensor

Holographic intefeometry affords a means for the non-destructive testing of components for flaws, material defects, residual stress, and material fatigue. Present day limitations in the holographic recording media used to store multiple holograms precludes the use of this technique in real-time applications. BCC proposes to use highly sensitive, chemically enhanced bacteriorhodopsin (bR) films as a reusable real-time optical material in a pulsed double exposure interferometer. Specifically, we will perform numerical simualtions to determine the necessary film and interferometer system parameters. These results, in conjunction with BCC's established bacteriorhodopsin film technology, will enable us to fabricate a set of bR films for a series of experiments demonstrating real-time pulsed double exposure interferometry. As an optional task we will demonstrate time-averaged interferometry. The work on this project will be performed at the BCC facility at Syracuse University, where all necessary equipment is available.