We performed comparative hole burning Stark effect experiments on the
monomer and aggregate absorption of PIG-I. The linear Stark effect in
the J band is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude as compared
to the monomer. Although this result does not comply with straightfor
ward exciton theories, it can be explained by imposing structural cons
traints on the aggregate. The quadratic Stark effect is significant in
the aggregate. At field strengths of about 300 kV/cm, it is as large
as the linear contribution.