Implications of parity conservation for superpositions of chiral states

In this paper, we consider how parity conservation limits the type of superpositions of chiral states that can be created and detected. We also show how spontaneous emission can cause the left and right hands of the superposition to become coupled to different states of the radiation field. This coupling, aside from being an interesting effect in its own right, helps to enforce the restrictions that parity conservation places upon superpositions of chiral states. Finally, we outline an analogy that exists between aspects of this work and the Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen paradox. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(98)01434-2].