Multistate transitions and quantum oscillations of optical activity

Abstract

We consider the effects of multistate transitions on the tunneling racemization of chiral molecules. This requires going beyond simple two-state models of enantiomers and to include transitions within a multiple-level quantum-mechanical system. We derive an effective two-level description which accounts for transitions from the enantiomers to an arbitrary number of excited states as an application of the Weisskopf-Wigner approximation scheme. Modifications to the optical activity from these additional states are considered in general terms under the assumption of CPT invariance and then under $T$ invariance. Some formal dynamical analogies between enantiomers and the neutral $K$-meson system are discussed.