Discriminatory optical force for chiral molecules
Cameron, Robert and Barnett, Steve and Yao, Alison (2014) Discriminatory optical force for chiral molecules. New Journal of Physics, 16 (Januar). 013020. ISSN 1367-2630
|
Text (Cameron-etal-NJOP-2014-Discriminatory-optical-force-for-chiral)
Cameron_etal_NJOP_2014_Discriminatory_optical_force_for_chiral.pdf Final Published Version License: ![]() Download (781kB)| Preview |
Abstract
We suggest that the force F exerted upon a chiral molecule by light assumes the form F = a∇w + b∇h under appropriate circumstances, where a and b pertain to the molecule whilst w and h are the local densities of electric energy and helicity in the optical field; the gradients ∇ of these quantities thus governing the molecule’s centre-of-mass motion. Whereas a is identical for the mirror- image forms or enantiomers of the molecule, b has opposite signs; the associated contribution to F therefore pointing in opposite directions. A simple optical field is presented for which ∇w vanishes but ∇h does not, so that F is absolutely discriminatory. We then present two potential applications: a Stern–Gerlach-type deflector capable of spatially separating the enantiomers of a chiral molecule and a diffraction grating to which chiral molecules alone are sensitive; the resulting diffraction patterns thus encoding information about their chiral geometry.
Creators(s): |
Cameron, Robert ![]() ![]() | Item type: | Article |
---|---|
ID code: | 46505 |
Keywords: | chiral molecules, medical physics, optical trapping, Physics, Physics and Astronomy(all) |
Subjects: | Science > Physics |
Department: | Faculty of Science > Physics |
Depositing user: | Pure Administrator |
Date deposited: | 20 Jan 2014 11:25 |
Last modified: | 06 Mar 2021 01:57 |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/46505 |
Export data: |