Enantiomer detection via Quantum Otto cycle

Abstract

Enantiomers are chiral molecules that exist in right-handed and left-handed conformations. Optical techniques of enantiomers detection are widely employed to discriminate between left- and right-handed molecules. However, identical spectra of enantiomers make enantiomer detection a very challenging task. Here, we investigate the possibility of exploiting thermodynamic processes for enantiomer detection. In particular, we employ a quantum Otto cycle, in which a chiral molecule described by a three-level system with cyclic optical transitions is considered a working medium. Each energy transition of the three-level system is coupled with an external laser drive. We find that the left-handed molecule works as a heat engine, while the right-handed molecule works as a thermal accelerator where the overall phase of the drives is considered as the cycle's control parameter. In addition, both left- and right-handed molecules work as heat engines by considering laser drives' detuning as the control parameter. However, the molecules can still be distinguished because both cases' extracted work and efficiency are quantitatively very different. Accordingly, left and right-handed molecules can be distinguished by evaluating the work distribution in the Otto cycle.