Polariton ring currents and circular dichroism of Mg-porphyrin in a chiral cavity

By placing Mg-porphyrin molecules in a chiral optical cavity, time reversal symmetry is broken, and polariton ring currents can be generated with linearly polarized light, resulting in a circular dichroism signal. Since the electronic state degeneracy in the molecule is lifted by the formation of chiral polaritons, this signal is one order of magnitude stronger than the bare molecule signal induced by circularly polarized light. Enantiomer-selective photochemical processes in chiral optical cavities is an intriguing future possibility.

Automated summary

Placing Mg-porphyrin molecules in a chiral optical cavity breaks time reversal symmetry, generating polariton ring currents with circular dichroism signals. The degeneracy of electronic states in the molecule is lifted by chiral polaritons, resulting in a signal one order of magnitude stronger than that induced by circularly polarized light. Enantiomer-selective photochemical processes in chiral optical cavities represent an intriguing future possibility.