Observation of Rayleigh optical activity for chiral molecules: a new chiroptical tool

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of Rayleigh optical activity in isotropic chiral molecules, validating long-standing theoretical predictions and introducing a new method for chiroptical analysis.

Contribution

It demonstrates Rayleigh optical activity measurement in isotropic samples, expanding the chiroptical toolkit and confirming decades-old theoretical predictions.

Findings

First observation of Rayleigh optical activity in chiral molecules

Validation of theoretical predictions from over fifty years ago

Expands methods available for chiroptical analysis

Abstract

By measuring a small circularly polarized component in the scattered light, we report the first observation of Rayleigh optical activity (RayOA) for isotropic samples of chiral molecules, namely the two enantiomers of $\alpha$-pinene in neat liquid form. Our work validates fundamental theoretical predictions made over fifty years ago and expands the chiroptical toolkit.