Imprinting Chirality on Atoms Using Synthetic Chiral Light Fields

Mayer N, Patchkovskii S, Morales F, Ivanov M, Smirnova O (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Book Volume: 129

Article Number: 243201

Journal Issue: 24

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.243201

Abstract

Atoms are usually thought of as achiral objects. However, one can construct superpositions of atomic states that are chiral [1]. Here, we show how to excite such superpositions with tailored light fields both in the weak-field and strong-field regimes, using realistic laser parameters. First, we use time-dependent Schrödinger equation simulations to demonstrate the creation of a time-dependent bound chiral wave packet in sodium atoms. Second, we show how the time-dependent handedness of this wave packet can be probed by photoelectron circular dichroism, in spite of the central symmetry of the core potential. Third, we use time-dependent Schrödinger equation simulations to show how chirality can be directly imprinted on a photoelectron wave packet created by strong-field ionization and introduce an unambiguous chiral measure that allows us to characterize its handedness.

Involved external institutions

Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. / Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy

Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Mayer, N., Patchkovskii, S., Morales, F., Ivanov, M., & Smirnova, O. (2022). Imprinting Chirality on Atoms Using Synthetic Chiral Light Fields. Physical Review Letters, 129(24). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.243201

MLA:

Mayer, Nicola, et al. "Imprinting Chirality on Atoms Using Synthetic Chiral Light Fields." Physical Review Letters 129.24 (2022).

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