Scientists have made a remarkable advancement in the area of chiral molecules, achieving nearly complete separation of their quantum states, which are vital for life.
This finding overturns earlier beliefs regarding the achievable limits of controlling the quantum states of chiral molecules and opens new avenues for exploration in molecular physics and other fields.
Chiral molecules appear in two forms that are mirror images of each other, known as enantiomers, similar to how our left and right hands differ. These molecules are crucial to life. The ability to manage these molecules and their quantum states has significant implications, including the spatial separation of enantiomers in gas phases and the investigation of why life prefers one enantiomer over another in biological systems, a phenomenon called homochirality.
Previously, scientists thought that perfect control over the quantum states of these molecules was theoretically feasible but practically impossible. However, the team at the Fritz Haber Institute has proven that it is indeed possible. By creating nearly optimal experimental conditions, they’ve demonstrated that it’s possible to achieve a 96% purity in the quantum state of one enantiomer, meaning only 4% of the other enantiomer remains, getting closer to the target of 100% selectivity.
This achievement was facilitated by using tailored microwave fields along with ultraviolet radiation, leading to exceptional control over the molecules. In the experiment, a stream of molecules, which had their rotational motions largely minimized (cooled to about 1 degree above absolute zero), passed through three interaction zones where they were exposed to resonant ultraviolet and microwave radiation. Hence, this marks a significant development in molecular beam experiments, allowing the selected enantiomer of a chiral molecule to be contained almost exclusively in the targeted rotational quantum states.
This new experiment paves the way for investigating essential physics and chemistry effects linked with chiral molecules. The approach taken by the team could lead to new exploration of parity violation in chiral molecules—a theoretical concept that hasn’t yet been practically observed. This could greatly influence our comprehension of the universe’s fundamental (a)symmetries.
Ultimately, this research demonstrates that a near-total, enantiomer-specific state transfer is feasible and that the method can be utilized for the vast majority of chiral molecules. This discovery is anticipated to create significant new opportunities in molecular physics, paving the way for innovative research methods and potential applications.
