Objective The PI and his group have in theoretical and preparatory experimental efforts approached one of the most fundamental questions of molecular physics, concerning the role of parity violation in chiral molecules, with consequences for physical stereochemistry. The traditional point of view assigns exactly equal ground state energies to the enantiomers of chiral molecules. However, with the discovery of parity violation in physics we expect a small “parity violating” energy difference D, corresponding to an in principle measurable reaction enthalpy. Because D is expected typically in the subfemto eV range these energies were in the past considered to be immeasurably small. Recent theoretical and experimental progress initiated by our group has led to order of magnitude larger predicted values for D and has also made rovibrational line assignment of optical spectra of chiral molecules possible (Quack, Stohner, Willeke, Ann. Revs. Phys. Chem. 2008). Thus the outlook to carry out successful experiments on D is now good, following a scheme previously published by us. The present proposal describes in detail several logical steps for these experiments.1. Theoretical analysis and high resolution spectroscopy of selected chiral molecules.2. Quantum tunneling dynamics from spectroscopy to identify appropriate quantum states for the experiment.3. Preparation of superposition states of otherwise stable R and S enantiomer quantum levels to generate “parity isomer” states (never before prepared)4. Spectroscopic observation of the time dependent change of the parity isomer spectra resulting in a first determination of the parity violating D in chiral molecules.We also discuss the feasibility and the outlook to gain fundamentally new knowledge. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesmolecular and chemical physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-PE4 - ERC Advanced Grant - Physical and Analytical Chemical sciences Call for proposal ERC-2011-ADG_20110209 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH EU contribution € 1 579 600,00 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Martin Paul Werner Quack (Prof.) Principal investigator Martin Paul Werner Quack (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Switzerland EU contribution € 1 579 600,00 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Martin Paul Werner Quack (Prof.) Principal investigator Martin Paul Werner Quack (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
