Quantum interference directed chiral Raman scattering in 2-D enantiomers

Raman scattering spectroscopy is a necessary and accurate method to characterize lattice structure and probe electron-photon and electron-phonon interactions. In the quantum realm, electrons at the ground states can be excited to intermediate energy levels by photons, then be coupled to phonons to emit photons with changed energies. The elementary Raman processes can interfere with each other via possible pathways to give rise to intriguing scattering effects. In a new report now published in Nature Communications, Shishu Zhang and a research team in nanochemistry and materials science in China described quantum interference that can lead to significant chiral Raman response in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides with triclinic symmetry and showed a large circular intensity difference for monolayer rhenium dichalcogenide. The results revealed chiral Raman spectra as a new manifestation of quantum interference to Raman scattering processes to inspire the induction of chiral optical responses in materials.