Anapole moment of a chiral molecule revisited

TL;DR

This paper recalculates the anapole moment in chiral molecules, correcting previous errors, generalizing the initial states, and discussing potential real-world molecules for experimental detection of parity violation.

Contribution

It provides a detailed derivation of the anapole moment in chiral molecules, correcting prior results and extending the analysis to additional quantum states.

Findings

Corrected previous calculations of the anapole moment.

Generalized the initial quantum states to |s_{1/2}\rangle and |p_{1/2}\rangle.

Discussed candidate molecules for experimental observation.

Abstract

Parity violation in a chiral, four-atom molecule is discussed. Given the geometrical positions of the four atoms, we calculate the anapole moment of it. This problem was first discussed by Khriplovich and Pospelov. We give a detailed derivation for it so that it can be more accessible to wider range of scientists. We correct errors in their results and generalize their initial state to |s_{1/2}\rangle and |p_{1/2}\rangle states. We also discuss realistic candidates of the chiral molecules to which this approach can be applied.