Photoanisotropic incoherent-to-coherent converter using a bacteriorhodopsin thin film.

We have fabricated a novel optically addressed spatial light modulator by using bacteriorhodopsin immobilized in a polymer thin film. This incoherent-to-coherent converter is based on photoinduced anisotropy, as distinguished from previously reported devices based on photochroism in bacteriorhodopsin. This system is capable of a resolution of 114 lines/mm with a contrast ratio of 100:1.