Searching for the helical-gradient force on chiral molecules

J. A. Jones; B. Regan; J. Painter; J. Mills; I. Dutta; B. Khajavi; E. J. Galvez

doi:10.1117/12.2253268

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27 February 2017 Searching for the helical-gradient force on chiral molecules

J. A. Jones, B. Regan, J. Painter, J. Mills, I. Dutta, B. Khajavi, E. J. Galvez

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Proceedings Volume 10120, Complex Light and Optical Forces XI; 101200M (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2253268
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We investigate a force that has been predicted to discriminate molecules by their chirality when they are in the presence of an optical field with a polarization-helicity gradient. We investigate several experimental geometries for observing evidence of this force via enantiometer separation in racemic mixtures. We do this with singular-optical beams carrying a polarization helicity gradient across their transverse mode. Molecular diffusion and the dipole force – an intensity-gradient force – have so far precluded measurements of this force.

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J. A. Jones, B. Regan, J. Painter, J. Mills, I. Dutta, B. Khajavi, and E. J. Galvez "Searching for the helical-gradient force on chiral molecules", Proc. SPIE 10120, Complex Light and Optical Forces XI, 101200M (27 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2253268

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