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 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013020)

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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.

ORCID iDs

Cameron, Robert ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-5459, Barnett, Steve and Yao, Alison ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6260-5852;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:46505
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    15 January 2014
    Published
    16 December 2013
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:20 Jan 2014 11:25
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 10:34
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/46505
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