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Third order nonlinear optical properties of bacteriochlorophylls in bacterial photosynthetic light-harvesting proteins.

Journal Article · · Chem. Phys. Lett.
The third order hyperpolarizability, {l_angle}{gamma}{r_angle}, of the ground state S{sub 0} of bacteriochlorophyll a (BChla) has been determined using degenerate four wave mixing. The {l_angle}{gamma}{r_angle} for BChl a in vivo (the B875 and B850 arrays of light harvesting proteins) is enhanced relative to that in vitro (THF). A significantly higher {l_angle}{gamma}{r_angle} in B875 than that in B850 suggests stronger pigment interactions in the former resulting from superior overlap of adjacent macrocycles. In addition, a 50-160 fold increase in {l_angle}{gamma}{r_angle} for the S{sub 1} excited state of relative to S{sub 0} of BChl a in vivo provides an alternative methods for probing excited state dynamics and a potential application for molecular switching.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
937951
Report Number(s):
ANL/CHM/JA-24452
Journal Information:
Chem. Phys. Lett., Journal Name: Chem. Phys. Lett. Journal Issue: 1997 Vol. 270; ISSN CHPLBC; ISSN 0009-2614
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH