DYNAMIC SELF-PUMPED PHASE-CONJUGATING MIRROR BASED ON THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN VARIANT D96N

A self-pumped, phase-conjugating mirror (diameter 17 mm) is described that contains the bacteriorhodopsin variant D96N as the photoactive ma terial. Resonant reflectivities up to 30% were obtained with an intens ity of 25 mW/cm(2) at 647 nm. Rise times of less than 1 ms were observ ed with an intensity of 500 mW/cm(2) at 532 nm. Wave-front restoration with spatial light modulators as the dynamic input device was demonst rated, and the dependence of the reflectivity on the intensity and pol arization was analyzed. The reflectivity shows no significant decrease with increasing angle between the pump and signal beams as a result o f the high resolution of the bacteriorhodopsin films.