Chiral crystallization manipulated by orbital angular momentum of light

Abstract

We present what we believe to be the demonstration of optical vortex trapping and chiral crystallization of sodium chlorate (NaClO3). In this work, the chirality of NaClO3 crystals is selectively controlled by altering the helicity (helical direction of the wavefront) of an irradiating optical vortex laser beam. A high crystal enantiomeric excess of 57% is achieved. These results demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum of an irradiating optical vortex laser beam twists the crystal during its polymorphic transition from a metastable achiral crystal to a stable chiral crystal. This work will offer fundamental insights into the dynamics and mechanism of enantioselective control in chiral crystallization and the origin of homochirality.