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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 013020 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | New Journal of Physics |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | January |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jan 2014 |
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Keywords
- chiral molecules
- medical physics
- optical trapping
Cite this
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Discriminatory optical force for chiral molecules. / Cameron, Robert; Barnett, Steve; Yao, Alison.
In: New Journal of Physics, Vol. 16, No. January, 013020, 15.01.2014.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Discriminatory optical force for chiral molecules
AU - Cameron, Robert
AU - Barnett, Steve
AU - Yao, Alison
PY - 2014/1/15
Y1 - 2014/1/15
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - chiral molecules
KW - medical physics
KW - optical trapping
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892750367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013020
DO - 10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013020
M3 - Article
VL - 16
JO - New Journal of Physics
JF - New Journal of Physics
SN - 1367-2630
IS - January
M1 - 013020
ER -