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Optical bistability and multistability via quantum coherence in chiral molecules.
Optics Express
|July 14, 2016
Summary
Chiral molecules in a ring cavity show optical bistability and multistability. Their enantiomer excess can be determined by measuring optical switching behaviors, aiding molecular chirality studies.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Optics
- Molecular Chirality
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Chiral molecules possess unique optical properties due to broken mirror symmetry.
- Optical bistability (OB) and multistability (OM) are nonlinear optical phenomena with potential applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate OB and OM in chiral molecules within a unidirectional ring cavity.
- Explore the influence of molecular chirality on bistable and multistable behaviors.
- Develop a method for probing molecular chirality and determining enantiomer excess.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation of chiral molecules in a three-level Δ-configuration ring cavity.
- Analysis of one-, two-, and three-photon resonance conditions.
- Examination of the effects of varying enantiomer percentages on optical responses.
Main Results:
- Achieved OB under one-, two-, and three-photon resonance conditions.
- Observed OM and switching between OB and OM by adjusting system parameters.
- Demonstrated distinct bistable and multistable behaviors for left- and right-handed chiral molecules.
- Found OB threshold intensity is dependent on enantiomer mixture percentage.
Conclusions:
- The system exhibits tunable optical bistability and multistability in chiral molecules.
- The dependence of OB threshold on enantiomer percentage offers a method to probe chirality and determine enantiomeric excess.
- Potential applications in organic chemistry, pharmacology, and biochemistry.
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