Imprinting chirality on atoms using synthetic chiral light fields

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 Schrodinger equation (TDSE) simulations to demonstrate the creation of a time-dependent bound chiral wavepacket in sodium atoms. Second, we show how the time-dependent handedness of this wavepacket can be probed by photoelectron circular dichroism, in spite of the central symmetry of the core potential. Third, we use TDSE simulations to show how chirality can be directly imprinted on a photoelectron wavepacket created by strong-field ionization and introduce an unambigous chiral measure that allows us to characterize its handedness.