Geometric magnetism and anomalous enantio-sensitive observables in photoionization of chiral molecules

Abstract

Chiral molecules are instrumental for molecular recognition in living organisms. Distinguishing between two opposite enantiomers, the mirror twins of the same chiral molecule, is both vital and challenging. Geometric magnetism enables a broad class of phenomena in solids including the anomalous electron velocity, the Hall effect, and related topological observables. Here we show that ultrafast electron currents excited in chiral molecules can generate geometric fields which enable a class of anomalous enantio-sensitive observables in photoionization. Next, we introduce the first member of this class: enantio-sensitive orientation of chiral molecules via photoionization. This effect opens unexplored routes to both enantio-separation and imaging of chiral dynamics on ultrafast time scales. Our work suggests that geometric magnetism in photoionization provides the bridge between the two geometrical properties, chirality and topology.