Strong chiral optical force for small chiral molecules based on electric-dipole interactions, inspired by the asymmetrical hydrozoan Velella velella

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Cameron, Robert P and McArthur, Duncan and Yao, Alison M (2023) Strong chiral optical force for small chiral molecules based on electric-dipole interactions, inspired by the asymmetrical hydrozoan Velella velella. New Journal of Physics, 25 (8). 083006. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ace7ee)

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Abstract

Drawing inspiration from a remarkable chiral force found in nature, we show that a static electric field combined with an optical lin ⊥ lin polarization standing wave can exert a chiral optical force on a small chiral molecule that is several orders of magnitude stronger than other chiral optical forces proposed to date, being based on leading electric-dipole interactions rather than relying on weak magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole interactions. Our chiral optical force applies to most small chiral molecules, including isotopically chiral molecules, and does not require a specific energy-level structure. Potential applications range from chiral molecular matter-wave interferometry for precision metrology and tests of fundamental physics to the resolution of enantiomers for use in chemistry and biology.

ORCID iDs

Cameron, Robert P ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-5459, McArthur, Duncan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8603-8349 and Yao, Alison M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6260-5852;
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