Artifact-free balanced detection for the measurement of circular dichroism with a sub-picosecond time resolution

Here we present the development of a subpicosecond spectropolarimeter enabling high sensitivity balanced detection of time-resolved circular dichroism (TRCD) signals from chiral sample in solution. The signals are measured with a conventional femtosecond pump-probe set-up using the combination of a quarter-waveplate and a Wollaston prism. This simple and robust method allows access to TRCD signals with improved signal-to-noise ratio and very short acquisition times. We provide a theoretical analysis of the artifacts of such detection geometry and the strategy to eliminate them. We illustrate the potential of this new detection with the study of the [Ru(phen)₃]·2PF₆ complexes in acetonitrile.