Tailored molecular samples for precision spectroscopy

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Melanie Schnell
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 212075839

It is the goal of the proposed research program to develop a novel experiment, which will allow us to precisely determine the frequency difference of the two enantiomers of chiral molecules due to parity violation. The experiment will be based on state-of-the-art molecule-manipulation techniques, such as Alternating-Gradient focusing and deceleration, and high-resolution rotational spectroscopy. This would be the first experimental detection of this predicted very small effect. The precise knowledge of the energy differences between the molecular levels of the two enantiomers will not only help to answer important questions which relate to the homochirality of life, but it will also allow for important feedback for the existing and future theoretical methods developed to theoretically study and predict the effect.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants