Enantiomer-Specific State Transfer of Chiral Molecules

Abstract

State-selective enantiomeric excess is realized using microwave-driven coherent population transfer. The method selectively promotes either R or S molecules to a higher rotational state by phase-controlled microwave pulses that drive electric-dipole allowed rotational transitions. We demonstrate the enantiomer-specific state transfer method using enantiopure samples of 1,2-propanediol. This method of state-specific enantiomeric enrichment can be applied to a large class of asymmetric, chiral molecules that can be vaporized and cooled to the point where rotationally resolved spectroscopy is possible, including molecules that rapidly racemize. The rapid chiral switching demonstrated here allows for new approaches in high-precision spectroscopic searches for parity violation in chiral molecules.