Determination of absolute chirality using resonant X-ray diffraction

DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2012-01607-2

Authors: Y. Tanaka (RIKEN SPring-8 Centre, Japan) , Stephen Lovesey (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: European Physical Journal Special Topics , VOL 208 (1) , PAGES 67-74

State: Published (Approved)
Published: June 2012

Abstract: We have demonstrated that resonant diffraction experiments using the circularly polarized X-ray beam absolutely determines the crystal chirality. Both berlinite and quartz crystals belonging to space group P3(2)21 show higher azimuth-constant intensity for the negative (-) helicity beam than that for the the positive (+) helicity beam for space-group forbidden reflection 001. The relation is opposite for quartz crystal belonging to space group P3(1)21. Theoretical calculation shows that this relation completely agrees with the experimental findings for the enantiomorphic space-group pair P3(1)21 and P3(2)21. This method is applicable to chiral motifs that occur in biomolecules, liquid crystals, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics, etc.

Journal Keywords: Bragg Reflection; Chirality; Resonance Scattering; X-Ray Diffraction

Subject Areas: Physics

Facility: SPring-8