Novel X-ray probes of molecular chirality

This talk presents recent advances in probing molecular chirality. After a brief overview of the appeal of X-rays for chirality-sensitive measurements, theoretical calculations of second-order nonlinear spectroscopies will be discussed, with an emphasis on sum- and difference-frequency generation. 

Second, entangled photons carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) will be introduced as a quantum optical probe: the OAM degree of freedom provides an alternative to spin angular momentum (i.e. the polarization), which is conventionally used in chiral spectroscopies, and entangling OAM modes offers a route to improved sensitivity. 

Finally, we will briefly present ultrafast photoelectron circular dichroism measurements that were conducted to track asymmetric nuclear dynamics. 

Together, these approaches expand the toolbox for element- and time-resolved studies of molecular chirality.