Enantiospecific Two-Photon Electric-Dipole Selection Rule of Chiral Molecules

Abstract

Distinguishing between enantiomers is crucial in the study of chiral molecules in chemistry and pharmacology. Many optical approaches rely on enantiospecific cyclic electric-dipole transitions induced by three microwave or laser beams. However, these approaches impose stringent requirements, including phase locking, three-photon resonance, and precise control over beam intensities and operation times, which enhance the complexity and restrict the applicability. In this letter, we present a novel optical method that {\it eliminates these constraints entirely.} Specifically, we demonstrate that in the presence of a static electric field, there is a selection rule for two-photon electric-dipole transitions that differs between enantiomers. This distinction arises because the static electric field breaks the symmetry associated with the combined action of a specific rotation and time-reversal transformation. Leveraging the enantiospecific two-photon selection rule, one can selectively excite a desired enantiomer using two beams, without the need for phase locking, resonance condition, and the precise control of their intensities and operation times. Our method significantly enhances the feasibility and applicability of optical approaches for enantiomer differentiation.

13 pages, 5 figures

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