Project Title:
Bacteriorhodospin, Spatial Light Modulators for Optical Processing
06.08-4100
910813
Bacteriorhodospin, Spatial Light Modulators for Optical Processing
Bend Research
64550 Research Road
Bend
OR
97701-8599
Dwayne T.
Friesen
503-382-4100
ARC
NAS2-13529
115
06.08-4100
910813
Abstract:
Bacteriorhodopsin, Spatial Light Modulators for Optical Processing
This project addresses the need for better spatial light modulators (SLMs) for use
in robotic vision, autonomous lander guidance, and spectral data analysis. An improved
SLM based on bacteriorhodopsin (BR), an organic material of biological origin with
unusual photochromic properties, will be developed. This will be optically addressable
and will offer the potential for high-resolution, high-speed updatability, and high
contrast. To demonstrate the potential of these BR-SLMs, it will be necessary to
fabricate high-optical-quality films of BR. Phase I will be focused on making and
optically testing films of BR. Phase II will demonstrate a prototype BR-SLM that
has high resolution, high-speed updatability, high contrast and the capability of
these devices in an optical-processor application.
High-quality BR-SLMs will be broadly useful in constructing optical computing devices
that are programmable in real time. Such devices could be used for pattern recognition,
synthetic aperture radar, and optical processors and also to implement artificial
neural networks. Holographic elements based on BR could be used for reconfigurable
optical interconnects, associative holographic memory, manufacturing-processing monitoring,
and dynamic-phase conjugate filters.
spatial light modulator, photochromic, bacteriorhodopsin, optical processor