Application of bacteriorhodopsin for optical limiting eye protection filters

The optical limiting properties of wildtype bacteriorhodopsin and D96N variant, solutions and films are described. Nanosecond pulse and continuous-wave visible regimes were used to evaluate samples in standard test-beds, for the application of eye protection laser filters. Molecular switching at low enough energies and powers for eye protection was possible, but only a low level of limiting was found. The refractive index change in films was found to reduce the laser energy present on a simulated retina. However the transmission spectrum of the unexposed films had poor characteristics for this application. Crown Copyright (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.