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Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity02:24

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It is essential to understand the difference between chiral and achiral interactions and the implications thereof in optical activity and their applications. Just as our feet, which are chiral, interact uniquely with chiral objects, such as a pair of shoes, but identically with achiral socks, enantiomers of a molecule exhibit different properties only when they interact with other chiral media. An example of a significant implication from this facet is the phenomenon known as optical activity,...
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An electric motor applies a torque of 700 N·m to an aluminum shaft, triggering a stable rotation. Two pulleys, B and C, are subjected to torques of 300 N·m and 400 N·m, respectively. The modulus of rigidity is provided as 25 GPa. With the knowledge of the length and diameter of each segment, the twist angle between the two pulleys can be computed. First, a section cut is made between pulleys B and C, and the cut cross-section is analyzed using a free-body diagram. Given that the...
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Chirality is a term that describes the lack of mirror symmetry in an object. In other words, chiral objects cannot be superposed on their mirror images. For example, our feet are chiral, as the mirror image of the left foot, the right foot, cannot be superposed on the left foot.
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Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid.
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The concept of prochirality leads to the nomenclature of the individual faces of a molecule and plays a crucial role in the enantioselective reaction. It is a concept where two or more achiral molecules react to produce chiral products. A typical process is the reaction of an achiral ketone to generate a chiral alcohol. Here, the achiral reactant reacts with an achiral reducing agent, sodium borohydride, to generate an equimolar mixture of the chiral enantiomers of the product. For example, an...
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The torque-free motion refers to the movement of a rigid body in space when no external torques are acting upon it. This type of motion can be observed in environments where there are no external forces or frictions, like in outer space. For example, a rotation of Mars in space is a torque-free motion. Mars is an axisymmetric object, meaning it has an axis of symmetry along which it rotates, designated as the z-axis. The rotating frame of reference is defined such that the center of mass of...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque
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Multipolar Pseudochirality-Induced Optical Torque.

Karim Achouri1, Mintae Chung1, Andrei Kiselev1

  • 1Nanophotonics and Metrology Laboratory, Institute of Electrical and Microengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Route Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

ACS Photonics
|September 25, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Achiral nanoparticles can experience optical torque from linearly polarized light due to pseudochiral responses. This finding explains the phenomenon and aids in designing nano-rotors.

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Area of Science:

  • Nanophotonics
  • Optical Nanomechanics
  • Chirality in Nanostructures

Background:

  • Achiral nanoparticles, like flat helices, exhibit optical torque under linearly polarized light.
  • The underlying mechanism for this optical torque has remained largely unexplained.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a rigorous explanation for optical torque in achiral nanoparticles.
  • To elucidate the role of pseudochiral responses in generating this torque.

Main Methods:

  • Application of multipolar theory.
  • Inclusion of nonlocal interactions in theoretical models.
  • Analysis of particle asymmetry's influence.

Main Results:

  • Optical torque originates from multipolar pseudochiral responses.
  • These responses generate both spin and orbital angular momenta.
  • Torque is highly dependent on particle asymmetry.

Conclusions:

  • The study clarifies the origin of optical torque in achiral nanoparticles.
  • Findings are crucial for developing advanced nano-rotors.
  • Understanding pseudochirality is key for nanomechanical applications.