Optical information recording in biopolymer-based material

In this paper we present results of possible applications of a modified DNA-dye system for dynamic processing of optical information like phase conjugation or optical correlation. The system consisted of bio-polymeric matrix made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) substituted with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA) and doped with a photochromic Disperse Red I dye. Fast dynamics (a single millisecond rise and fall times) of diffraction grating formation were obtained in a typical degenerate two or four wave mixing experiments. For sample excitation we used a linearly polarized light of lambda = 514.5 rim delivered by an argon ion (Ar+) laser. Complete reversibility of the signal generation with no residual light diffraction even after longer time exposures (up to few hours) was observed.