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arXiv:1008.3787 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Distinguishing left- and right-handed molecules using two-step coherent pulses

W. Z. Jia, L. F. Wei

Published Sep 6, 2010• 33 citations
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Abstract

Chiral molecules with broken parity symmetries can be modeled as quantum systems with cyclic-transition structures. By using these novel properties, we design two-step laser pulses to distinguish left- and right-handed molecules from the enantiomers. After the applied pulse drivings, one kind chiral molecules are trapped in coherent population trapping state, while the other ones are pumped to the highest states for ionizations. Then, different chiral molecules can be separated.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/43/18/185402

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Chiral molecules with broken parity symmetries can be modeled as quantum systems with cyclic-transition structures. By using these novel properties, we design two-step laser pulses to distinguish left- and right-handed molecules from the enantiomers. After the applied pulse drivings, one kind chiral molecules are trapped in coherent population trapping state, while the other ones are pumped to the highest states for ionizations. Then, different chiral molecules can be separated.
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A highly efficient method for optical or microwave detection and separation of left- and right-handed chiral molecules is proposed. The method utilizes a closed-loop three-state system in which the population dynamics depends on the phases of the three couplings. Because of the different signs of the coupling between two of the states for the opposite chiralities the population dynamics is chirality dependent. By using the "shortcuts to adiabaticity" concept applied to the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage technique, one can achieve 100% contrast between the two enantiomers in the population of a particular state. It can be probed by light-induced fluorescence for large ensembles or through resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization for single molecules.
We show that quantum systems with broken symmetry can be selectively excited due to the coexistence of one- and two-photon transitions between the same states. Discrimination between two mirror-symmetric quantum wells or left- and right-handed chiral molecules can be accomplished by a ``cyclic population transfer'' process, in which one optically couples three system states $|1〉\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}|2〉\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}|3〉\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}|1〉$, and completely transfers population from state ∣1〉|1〉∣1〉 to state ∣2〉|2〉∣2〉 and ∣3〉M|3{〉}_{M}∣3〉M​ (i.e., state ∣3〉|3〉∣3〉 of the mirror imaged system) or state ∣3〉|3〉∣3〉 and ∣2〉M|2{〉}_{M}∣2〉M​, depending on the laser phases.
Enantiomers are chiral molecules that exist in right-handed and left-handed conformations. Optical techniques of enantiomers' detection are widely employed to discriminate between left- and right-handed molecules. However, identical spectra of enantiomers make enantiomer detection a very challenging task. Here, we investigate the possibility of exploiting thermodynamic processes for enantiomer detection. In particular, we employ a quantum Otto cycle in which a chiral molecule described by a three-level system with cyclic optical transitions is considered a working medium. Each energy transition of the three-level system is coupled with an external laser drive. We find that the left- and right-handed enantiomers operate as a quantum heat engine and a thermal accelerator, respectively, when the overall phase is the control parameter. In addition, both enantiomers act as heat engines by keeping the overall phase constant and using the laser drives' detuning as the control parameter during the cycle. However, the molecules can still be distinguished because both cases' extracted work and efficiency are quantitatively very different. Accordingly, the left- and right-handed molecules can be distinguished by evaluating the work distribution in the Otto cycle.
Abstract For quantum systems with broken parities, a transition can appear for any two different states, and cyclic transition structures can be generated for the lowest three levels. Based on these loop transitions, we discuss how to achieve high-precision localization effects for physical objects with broken parities, i.e . chiral molecules and asymmetric quantum wells. In a Δ-type three-level system interacting simultaneously with three external fields, one of which is a standing-wave field, the absorption spectrum carries information about the position of the objects. Moreover, we can achieve 100% probability of finding the objects at certain positions by choosing appropriate parameters. In addition, we present two possible implementations of the suggested scheme in a system comprising a mixture of left- and right-handed chiral molecules and asymmetric quantum wells and show how the phase-sensitive localization effect can be used to discriminate between enantiomeric molecules.