Fundamental and approximate symmetries, parity violation and tunneling in chiral and achiral molecules

Abstract

We introduce the basic concepts of symmetry breakings and approximate constants of the motion in relation to time scales for molecular primary processes from yoctoseconds to seconds and extending to the age of the universe. We then discuss the concepts for the experimental approach to study these processes of molecular quantum dynamics by high-resolution spectroscopy and the basic scheme for control of symmetries and the observation of the evolution of approximate constants of the motion by generating "exotic superposition isomers." We illustrate the results from our theoretical and experimental work with emphasis on the conservation and violation of nuclear spin symmetry and parity violation in chiral and achiral molecules.