Photon-mediated chiral interactions for enantiomer detection and separation (C06)

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 328961117

We study interactions of chiral molecules with photons on the basis of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. This allows us to predict to what extent the resulting excitation decay and transfer phenomena (Purcell effect, resonance energy transfer, antenna-induced photo-electron circular dichroism) and dispersion as well as optical forces depend on the handedness of a molecule. Such discriminatory effects shall be exploited to distinguish and separate enantiomers. They can be enhanced or even induced by magneto-electric environments.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1319: Extreme light for sensing and driving molecular chirality (ELCH)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Kassel
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Stefan Yoshi Buhmann