Geometric phase and parity-violating energy difference locking of chiral molecules

Abstract

Geometric phases within a canonical formulation of chiral molecules are analyzed paying special attention to the fundamental role played by the parity violating energy difference. We study the Hamiltonian dynamics in terms of canonically conjugate variables, showing how parity-violating energy difference could be locked (PVED-locking) by means of a circularly polarized electric field. Signatures of this locking are predicted to occur both in the geometric phase and in the interference between chiral states. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.