Towards a Modern Theory of Chiralization

TL;DR

This paper advocates for developing a Modern Theory of Chiralization, paralleling the Modern Theory of Polarization, to better quantify and understand chirality in materials.

Contribution

It reviews previous efforts and proposes directions for establishing a comprehensive Modern Theory of Chiralization.

Findings

Highlights the importance of a Modern Theory of Chiralization

Identifies key challenges and potential routes for theory development

Connects chirality quantification with material properties

Abstract

The Modern Theory of Polarization, which rigorously defines the spontaneous electric polarization of a periodic solid and provides a recipe for its computation in electronic structure codes, transformed our understanding of ferroelectricity and related dielectric properties. Here we call for the development of an analogous Modern Theory of Chiralization. We review earlier attempts to quantify chirality, highlight the fundamental and practical developments that a modern theory would facilitate, and suggest possible promising routes to its establishment.