Strong Differential Photoion Circular Dichroism in Strong-Field Ionization of Chiral Molecules

TL;DR

This paper explores how the helicity of circularly polarized light influences the ionization probability of chiral molecules in strong laser fields, revealing measurable differences that impact theoretical models.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significance of light helicity in strong-field ionization of chiral molecules, providing experimental evidence of differential ionization probabilities.

Findings

Observed a several percent variation in ionization probability based on light helicity.

Highlighted the importance of including light helicity in theoretical models.

Analyzed specific fragmentation channels of bromochlorofluoromethane and methyloxirane.

Abstract

We investigate the differential ionization probability of chiral molecules in the strong field regime as a function of the helicity of the incident light. To this end, we analyze the fourfold ionization of bromochlorofluoromethane (CHBrClF) with subsequent fragmentation into four charged fragments and different dissociation channels of the singly ionized methyloxirane. We observe a variation of the differential ionization probability in a range of several percent. Accordingly, we conclude that the helicity of light is a quantity that should be considered for the theoretical description of the strong field ionization rate of chiral molecules.