Selective preparation of enantiomers by laser pulses: Quantum model simulation for H ₂ POSH

This Letter presents the first quantum model simulation of the selective preparation of enantiomers by means of optimal, elliptically polarized, infrared picosecond laser pulses. The laser-driven molecular dynamics is demonstrated by the time evolution of the representative wavepacket, from the initial state which corresponds to a 50:50% racemate of two equivalent enantiomers with opposite chiralities towards the nearly 100:0% preparation of a single enantiomer. The wavepacket dynamics is based on the quantum ab initio potential energy surface and dipole functions for the torsional vibration of the hydrogen atom around the P-S molecular axis of the model system H₂POSH.