Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Annalen der Physik

Chiral Discrimination via Shortcuts to Adiabaticity and Optimal Control

Wei‐Wei Ding, Yi‐Hao Kang, Yang Liu, Jie Song, Bi‐Hua Huang, Yan Xia

Published Apr 7, 2022• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract A protocol to distinguish chiral molecules with the help of a cyclic three‐level structure is proposed. Non‐resonant microwave pules are applied to drive the transition of chiral molecules from their ground states to dressed‐states with different eigenenergies, which induce a large energy split in the levels of left‐handed molecules. This dynamics helps to realize a chirality‐selective transition, where only the right‐handed molecules can be excited to the higher levels. By utilizing the SU(2)‐transformation‐based shortcuts to adiabaticity method and the systematic‐error‐sensitivity nullified optimal control method, systematic‐error‐resistant control pulses to realize maximal population difference between molecules with different chirality are designed. Numerical simulations show that the protocol is also insensitive to random noise and energy relaxation. Therefore, the protocol may provide a promising approach for rapid and robust chiral discrimination.

DOI
10.1002/andp.202100573

Related papers

Efficient and robust chiral discrimination by invariant-based inverse engineering

Hang Xu, Xue‐Ke Song, Ye Liu +1 more

We propose an accurate and convenient method to achieve 100% discrimination of chiral molecules with Lewis-Riesenfeld invariance. By reversely designing the pulse scheme of handed resolution, we obtain the parameters of the three-level Hamiltonians to achieve this goal. For the same initial state, we can completely transfer its population to one energy level for left-handed molecules, while transferring it to another energy level for right-handed molecules. Moreover, this method can be further optimized when errors exist, and it shows that the optimal method is more robust against these errors than the counterdiabatic and original invariant-based shortcut schemes. This provides an effective, accurate, and robust method to distinguish the handedness of molecules.

arXiv:2301.03778•Optics Letters•Apr 14, 2023•8 citations

Highly Efficient Detection and Separation of Chiral Molecules through Shortcuts to Adiabaticity

Nikolay V. Vitanov, Michael Drewsen

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.

arXiv:1901.11487•Physical Review Letters•May 3, 2019•88 citations

Near-perfect discrimination of chiral molecules based on steady states of a cavity mode

Yi‐Hao Kang, Zhe-Ping Lin, Jianqun Yang +2 more

We propose a protocol to realize discrimination of chiral molecules based on steady states of a cavity mode. Using the closed-loop three-level structure of a molecule, an effective Hamiltonian of the molecule-cavity-coupled system is derived. The effective Hamiltonian is similar to a linear driving of the cavity mode, but the driving strength depends on the chirality of the molecule. In the presence of photon loss, the cavity behaves like a driven damped harmonic oscillator, and it will evolve to different steady coherence states according to the chirality of the molecule. By selecting proper parameters, it is possible to obtain steady coherence states with large-enough amplitudes that can be well determined by homodyne measurements on the cavity. Consequently, the chirality of the molecules can be discriminated near perfectly, according to the measurement result of the cavity. Numerical simulations show that the protocol is insensitive to the systematic errors of the control fields and the energy relaxation of the molecules. Therefore, the protocol may provide an effective approach to realize chirality discrimination with high accuracy.

Physical Review A•May 26, 2023•4 citations

Robust and highly efficient discrimination of chiral molecules through three-mode parallel paths

Jin‐Lei Wu, Yan Wang, Jie Song +3 more

We propose to discriminate chiral molecules by combining one- and two-photon processes in a closed-loop configuration. The one-photon-coupling intrinsic $\ensuremath{\pi}$-phase difference between two enantiomers leads to their different superposition states, which is then followed by a two-photon process through three-mode parallel paths (3MPPs), enabling the discrimination of enantiomers by inducing their entirely different population distributions. The 3MPPs are constructed by ``chosen paths,'' a method of shortcuts to adiabaticity, exhibiting a fast two-photon process. As an example, we propose to perform the scheme in 1,2-propanediol molecules, which show relatively robust and highly efficient results under considering the experimental issues concerning unwanted transitions, imperfect initial state, pulse shaping, control errors, and the effect of energy relaxations. The present work may provide help for laboratory researchers in a robust separation of chiral molecules.

arXiv:1910.00763•Physical Review A•Oct 21, 2019•52 citations

Dynamic method to distinguish between left- and right-handed chiral molecules

Yong Li, Christoph Bruder

We study quantum systems with broken symmetry that can be modeled as cyclic three-level atoms with coexisting one- and two-photon transitions. They can be selectively optically excited to any state. As an example, we show that left- and right-handed chiral molecules starting in the same initial states can evolve into different final states by a purely dynamic transfer process. That means that left- and right-handed molecules can be distinguished purely dynamically.

arXiv:0712.3722•Physical Review A•Jan 18, 2008•69 citations

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

W. Z. Jia, L. F. Wei

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.

arXiv:1008.3787•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Sep 6, 2010•33 citations
Abstract A protocol to distinguish chiral molecules with the help of a cyclic three‐level structure is proposed. Non‐resonant microwave pules are applied to drive the transition of chiral molecules from their ground states to dressed‐states with different eigenenergies, which induce a large energy split in the levels of left‐handed molecules. This dynamics helps to realize a chirality‐selective transition, where only the right‐handed molecules can be excited to the higher levels. By utilizing the SU(2)‐transformation‐based shortcuts to adiabaticity method and the systematic‐error‐sensitivity nullified optimal control method, systematic‐error‐resistant control pulses to realize maximal population difference between molecules with different chirality are designed. Numerical simulations show that the protocol is also insensitive to random noise and energy relaxation. Therefore, the protocol may provide a promising approach for rapid and robust chiral discrimination.
We propose an accurate and convenient method to achieve 100% discrimination of chiral molecules with Lewis-Riesenfeld invariance. By reversely designing the pulse scheme of handed resolution, we obtain the parameters of the three-level Hamiltonians to achieve this goal. For the same initial state, we can completely transfer its population to one energy level for left-handed molecules, while transferring it to another energy level for right-handed molecules. Moreover, this method can be further optimized when errors exist, and it shows that the optimal method is more robust against these errors than the counterdiabatic and original invariant-based shortcut schemes. This provides an effective, accurate, and robust method to distinguish the handedness of molecules.
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 propose a protocol to realize discrimination of chiral molecules based on steady states of a cavity mode. Using the closed-loop three-level structure of a molecule, an effective Hamiltonian of the molecule-cavity-coupled system is derived. The effective Hamiltonian is similar to a linear driving of the cavity mode, but the driving strength depends on the chirality of the molecule. In the presence of photon loss, the cavity behaves like a driven damped harmonic oscillator, and it will evolve to different steady coherence states according to the chirality of the molecule. By selecting proper parameters, it is possible to obtain steady coherence states with large-enough amplitudes that can be well determined by homodyne measurements on the cavity. Consequently, the chirality of the molecules can be discriminated near perfectly, according to the measurement result of the cavity. Numerical simulations show that the protocol is insensitive to the systematic errors of the control fields and the energy relaxation of the molecules. Therefore, the protocol may provide an effective approach to realize chirality discrimination with high accuracy.
We propose to discriminate chiral molecules by combining one- and two-photon processes in a closed-loop configuration. The one-photon-coupling intrinsic $\ensuremath{\pi}$-phase difference between two enantiomers leads to their different superposition states, which is then followed by a two-photon process through three-mode parallel paths (3MPPs), enabling the discrimination of enantiomers by inducing their entirely different population distributions. The 3MPPs are constructed by ``chosen paths,'' a method of shortcuts to adiabaticity, exhibiting a fast two-photon process. As an example, we propose to perform the scheme in 1,2-propanediol molecules, which show relatively robust and highly efficient results under considering the experimental issues concerning unwanted transitions, imperfect initial state, pulse shaping, control errors, and the effect of energy relaxations. The present work may provide help for laboratory researchers in a robust separation of chiral molecules.