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

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)

[thumbnail of Cameron-etal-NJP-2023-Strong-chiral-optical-force-for-small-chiral-molecules-based-on-electric-dipole-interactions]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Cameron_etal_NJP_2023_Strong_chiral_optical_force_for_small_chiral_molecules_based_on_electric_dipole_interactions.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (2MB)| Preview

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.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)