Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics theory of resonance energy transfer involving chiral molecules

TL;DR

This paper develops a macroscopic quantum electrodynamics framework to analyze resonance energy transfer between chiral molecules, revealing how medium properties influence enantiomer discrimination.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical approach to quantify discriminatory and non-discriminatory energy transfer rates, including effects of media and local fields.

Findings

Discriminatory transfer rate is larger in the retarded regime.

Medium properties can enhance or invert enantiomer discrimination.

Optimal dielectric media for discrimination are identified.

Abstract

Resonance energy transfer between chiral molecules can be used to discriminate between different enantiomers. The transfer rate between chiral molecules consists of a non-discriminatory and discriminatory parts. We derive these two rate contributions in the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. We show that their ratio is usually larger in the retarded regime or far-zone of large separation distances and that the degree of discrimination can be modified when considering a surrounding medium. We highlight the importance of local field effects onto the degree of discrimination and predict for general identical chiral molecules the optimum dielectric medium for discrimination. We apply our results on to 3-methylcyclopentanone and show that exotic media can even invert the discriminatory effect.