Polarized photon-pairs heterodyne polarimetry for ultrasensitive optical activity detection of a chiral medium.
A polarized photon-pairs heterodyne polarimetry is proposed in order to measure in an ultrasensitive manner the circular birefringence of a chiral medium via optical rotation detection. A balanced detector is integrated into this polarimeter. Thus, shot-noise-limited detection by this polarimeter can be achieved. Experimentally, the detection sensitivity for the circular birefringence of a glucose-water solution up to partial differential |n(r) - n(l)| = 2 x 10(-11) at 10 mg/dL is verified. To our knowledge, this is the highest sensitivity ever measured of a chiral liquid solution based on single traveling sample cell geometry. Finally, when compared to a fiber loop ring-resonator in the frequency domain for a chiral liquid, this polarimeter shows an order of 10(4) enhancement on the sensitivity of natural optical activity measurement.
Institute of Radiological Sciences and Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (112). cchou@ym.edu.tw
Chien
C
Chou
Kun-Huei
KH
Chiang
Kuan-Yung
KY
Liao
Ying-Feng
YF
Chang
Chu-En
CE
Lin
D000465:Algorithms; D001718:Birefringence; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D017785:Photons; D012031:Refractometry; D012996:Solutions; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D005947:Glucose