We explore a pure optical method for enantioselective orientation of chiral molecules by means of laser fields with twisted polarization. Several field implementations are considered, including a pair of delayed cross-polarized laser pulses, an optical centrifuge, and polarization shaped pulses. The underlying classical orientation mechanism common for all these fields is discussed, and its operation is demonstrated for a range of chiral molecules of various complexity: hydrogen thioperoxide (${ \rm HSOH}$), propylene oxide (${ \rm CH_{ 3}CHCH_{ 2}O}$) and ethyl oxirane (${ \rm CH_{ 3}CH_{ 2}CHCH_{ 2}O}$). The presented results demonstrate generality, versatility and robustness of this optical method for manipulating molecular enantiomers in the gas phase.
Categories: physics.chem-ph physics.optics