# Controlled enantioselective orientation of chiral molecules with an optical centrifuge

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first experimental enantioselective control of chiral molecules' rotation using an optical centrifuge, enabling orientation based on molecular handedness with potential applications in chiral separation.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental method for enantioselective rotational control of chiral molecules using an optical centrifuge, supported by theoretical and simulation validation.

## Key findings

- Enantiomers of propylene oxide are selectively rotated unidirectionally.
- Centrifuged molecules show preferential orientation perpendicular to the rotation plane.
- The orientation direction depends on the enantiomer's handedness.

## Abstract

We report on the first experimental demonstration of enantioselective rotational control of chiral molecules with a laser field. In our experiments, two enantiomers of propylene oxide are brought to accelerated unidirectional rotation by means of an optical centrifuge. Using Coulomb explosion imaging, we show that the centrifuged molecules acquire preferential orientation perpendicular to the plane of rotation, and that the direction of this orientation depends on the relative handedness of the enantiomer and the rotating centrifuge field. The observed effect is in agreement with theoretical predictions and is reproduced in numerical simulations of the centrifuge excitation followed by Coulomb explosion of the centrifuged molecules. The demonstrated technique opens new avenues in optical enantioselective control of chiral molecules with a plethora of potential applications in differentiation, separation and purification of chiral mixtures.