30/10/2024, 15:00 at Aula Seminari, Building RM004
The geometrical property of three-dimensional objects that cannot be superimposed to their mirror image is called chirality. Identical objects with opposite chirality, known as enantiomers, share most chemical and physical properties, and display their chiral nature only in the interaction with a chiral environment. Chirality is fundamental in biological processes and is prevalent in biomolecules, with DNA being a prime example. Light itself exhibits chiral properties and can be used to probe the chirality of chemical compounds, though these interactions are typically very weak, making it challenging to analyze small amounts of molecules. In this seminar, we will first introduce the concept of optical chirality and then explore how plasmonic and photonic nanostructures can create superchiral fields, electromagnetic fields that interact strongly with small quantities of chiral molecules, enabling the detection of their chiral properties. Special focus will be given to superchiral surface waves, a unique type of electromagnetic field that potentially allows for the analysis and manipulation of chiral objects at the nanoscale.