Abstract
An operational characterization of the molecular photocycle of a genetic variant of bacteriorhodopsin, BR–D85N, is presented. Steady-state bleach spectra and pump–probe absorbance data are obtained with thick hydrated films that contain BR–D85N embedded in a gelatin host. Simple two- and three-state models are used to analyze the photocycle dynamics and to extract relevant information such as pure-state absorption spectra, photochemical-transition quantum efficiencies, and thermal lifetimes of dominant states that appear in the photocycle, the knowledge of which should facilitate the analysis and the design of optical applications based on this photochromic medium. The remarkable characteristics of this material and their implications from the viewpoint of optical data storage and processing are discussed.
© 2000 Optical Society of America
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