Kinetic optimization of bacteriorhodopsin films for holographic interferometry

A proton-diffusion-limited, two-state model (PDL2 model) for bacteriorhodopsin is introduced that allows modeling mathematically the optical excitation and thermal relaxation processes for both high and low humidities in bacteriorhodopsin films. Kinetically optimized bacteriorhodopsin films yield a more-than-30-fold improvement of sensitivity in holographic interferometry compared to dry bacteriorhodopsin films.