Foster-Miller has explored the use of Bacteriorhodopsin (bR), a naturally occurring protein, in optical devices such as films that become opaque as light intensity increases. For laser eye protection, we showed that the change in index of refraction of the bR films is too slow and too small to be effective. However, we also learned that the optical switching behavior of bR can be used effectively in a compact optical correlator for image processing. Our program included development of a new, high-purity source of bR purple membrane, development of processing techniques for bR films and characterization of those films.
During the program, several device designs were evaluated, fabricated and tested that used bR as a spatial light modulator in the compact optical correlator. In this architecture, the bR natural protein has shown promise for use in optical correlation for image processing, with the capability to replace more complex all-digital image processing. The US Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson AFB sponsored this effort.
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