Quantum-elevated Chiral Discrimination for Bio-molecules

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum-enhanced method for chiral discrimination of biomolecules that surpasses classical sensitivity limits using polarization-entangled states, enabling non-destructive, high-precision analysis.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel quantum approach using polarization-entangled states to improve chiral discrimination sensitivity beyond the shot-noise limit.

Findings

Achieved 5 dB sensitivity improvement over the shot-noise limit.

Successfully distinguished L- and D-amino acids in liquid phase.

Proposed a non-destructive, biocompatible protocol for high-sensitivity chiral analysis.

Abstract

Chiral discrimination of enantiomeric biomolecules is vital in chemistry, biology, and medicine. Conventional methods, relying on circularly polarized light, face weak chiroptical signals and potential photodamage. Despite extensive efforts to improve sensitivity under low-photon exposure, classical chiral probes remain fundamentally bounded by the shot-noise limit due to quantum fluctuations. To beat these limitations, we demonstrate quantum-elevated chiral discrimination using continuous-variable polarization-entangled states as moderate-photon-flux, high-sensitivity, quantum-noise-squeezed chiral probes. We achieve a 5 dB improvement beyond the SNL in distinguishing L- and D-amino acids in liquid phase. This non-destructive, biocompatible protocol enables high-sensitivity chiral analysis, with broad implications for drug development, biochemical research, environmental monitoring, and asymmetric synthesis.