Polarization-state dependence of the ionization dynamics of a chiral molecule in intense laser light

Abstract

Circular dichroism of a chiral molecule, S(+)2-butanol, is investigated in intense laser light. Although theory suggests the possibility of enhanced differences in absorption (leading to ionization) of circularly polarized light of a particular handedness by a random ensemble of chiral molecules, we report results of experiments that fail to observe such effects. While the ionization probability does not significantly change with the ellipticity of the incident light, fragmentation decreases with enhanced ellipticity. The kinetic-energy release accompanying CH⁺ formation decreases as the laser light becomes more intense, a possible manifestation of bond softening.