Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy for enantiomer-specific detection of chiral molecules

1. A spectrometer, comprising:

a housing defining a volume into which an analyte gas is introduced, the analyte gas including a chiral component;

a microwave generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a microwave pulse to the analyte gas, the microwave pulse being polarized along a first direction;

an electric field generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a switched electric field to the analyte gas, the electric field being oriented along a second direction different from the first direction;

a phase-sensitive microwave detector coupled to the housing and configured to detect an induced microwave emitted by the analyte gas, the induced microwave being polarized along a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction; and

an analyzer coupled to the phase-sensitive microwave detector and configured to detect an enantiomer of the chiral component based on a phase of the induced microwave.

2. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are substantially orthogonal to one another.

3. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generator is configured to activate the electric field after application of the microwave pulse and before detection of the induced microwave.

4. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generator is configured to deactivate the electric field after application of the microwave pulse and before detection of the induced microwave.

5. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generator is configured to activate the electric field substantially in parallel with application of the microwave pulse.

6. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a set of reflectors to define a microwave cavity.

7. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the microwave generator is configured to apply the microwave pulse as a broadband chirped pulse.

8. A spectrometer, comprising:

a housing defining a volume into which an analyte gas is introduced, the analyte gas including a chiral component;

a microwave generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a microwave pulse to the analyte gas, the microwave pulse configured to induce a first polarization along a first direction;

an electric field generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a switched electric field to the analyte gas, the electric field configured to induce a second polarization along a second direction different from the first direction;

a set of microwave detectors coupled to the housing and configured to detect the first polarization and the second polarization; and

an analyzer coupled to the set of microwave detectors and configured to detect a chirality of the chiral component based on a phase of the second polarization.

9. The spectrometer of claim 8 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

10. The spectrometer of claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a first reflector and a second reflector to define a microwave cavity.

11. The spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein a first microwave detector of the set of microwave detectors is coupled to the cavity via a first aperture formed in the first reflector, and a second microwave detector of the set of microwave detectors is coupled to the cavity via a second aperture formed in the second reflector.

12. The spectrometer of claim 8 , wherein the analyzer is configured to detect an enantiomeric excess of the chiral component based on a magnitude of the second polarization.

13. A spectrometer, comprising:

a housing defining a volume into which an analyte gas is introduced, the analyte gas including a chiral component;

a first generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a first pulse to the analyte gas, the first pulse being polarized along a first direction;

a second generator coupled to the housing and configured to apply a second pulse to the analyte gas, the second pulse being polarized along a second direction different from the first direction;

a phase-sensitive detector coupled to the housing and configured to detect an induced radiation emitted by the analyte gas, the induced radiation being polarized along a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction; and

an analyzer coupled to the phase-sensitive detector and configured to detect an enantiomer of the chiral component based on a phase of the induced radiation.

14. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are substantially orthogonal to one another.

15. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the first generator and the second generator are configured to apply the first pulse and the second pulse sequentially.

16. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the first generator and the second generator are configured to apply the first pulse and the second pulse substantially simultaneously.

17. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the first generator is configured to apply the first pulse at a higher frequency relative to the second pulse.

18. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the first generator is configured to apply the first pulse as a first microwave pulse.

19. The spectrometer of claim 18 , wherein the second generator is configured to apply the second pulse as a second microwave pulse.

20. The spectrometer of claim 13 , wherein the analyzer is configured to detect an enantiomeric excess of the chiral component based on a magnitude of the induced radiation.