Enhancement of the parity-violating energy difference of H₂X₂ molecules by electronic excitation

Abstract

The parity-violating energy difference (PVED) between two enantiomers of a chiral molecule is caused by the weak interaction. Because of the smallness of the PVED, nonzero PVED is yet to be discovered in experimental searches. To detect the PVED, the search for molecules with large PVED values is important. Previously, one of the authors proposed that the PVED may be significantly enhanced in ionized or excited states. The significant enhancement of the PVED in some electronic excited states is proven in this study using H₂X₂ (X = O, S, Se, Te) molecules as examples. The maximum enhancement was an about 360-fold increase for H₂Se₂. For the PVED calculation, we employ the finite-field perturbation theory (FFPT) within the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster theory based on the exact two-component molecular mean-field Hamiltonian. The relation between the enhancement of the PVED and the contribution to the PVED from the highest occupied molecular orbital is also examined. The effects of computational elements, such as parameters related to the electron correlation and FFPT on PVED values in excited states of H₂X₂ molecules, are studied.