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arXiv · 2602.23655

X-ray diffraction from chiral molecules with twisted beams

Akilesh Venkatesh·Phay J. Ho·Jérémy R. Rouxel
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Abstract

Structured x-rays carrying an orbital angular momentum break spatial inversion symmetry and have been proposed as probes of chirality. We theoretically investigate twisted non-resonant x-ray diffraction from chiral molecules and demonstrate that no dichroic signal can arise from randomly oriented molecules, irrespective of the beam spatial profile. However, a dichroic response emerges for oriented molecules. Our results establish the beam and sample conditions for which a measurable dichroic scattering signal survives axial and focal averaging.

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Akilesh Venkatesh, Phay J. Ho, Jérémy R. Rouxel. 2026-02-27. X-ray diffraction from chiral molecules with twisted beams. https://doi.org/10.1103/7z6s-dky4

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