Optical separation and discrimination of chiral particles by vector beams with orbital angular momentum

Chirality describes a reduced symmetry and abounds in nature. The handedness-dependent response usually occurs only when a chiral object interacts with another chiral entity. Light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) is inherently chiral due to the helical wave front. Here, we put forward a scheme that enables optical separation and simultaneous discrimination of single chiral particles using focused vector beams with OAM. Such focused vector vortex beams carrying radial-splitting optical chirality can selectively trap one enantiomer inside or outside the intensity maxima depending on the sign of the OAM. The particles with different chirality parameters can be trapped on different orbits and experience enhanced orbital motion. Moreover, the magnitude of OAM as well as the size of particle plays an important role in the chiral separation and discrimination. In addition to particle manipulation, the discussion of OAM in chiral light–matter interactions has potential application in, for example, optical enantioseparation or chiral detection.