A differential method has been developed which determines displacement from the midpoint of optical transmission (.+-.45.degree.) and utilizes the coupled nature of the two signals for common mode noise rejection to enhance the detection of chiral species. A beam of light is modulated, applied to the chiral mixture, and then split into a first beam and a related orthogonal beam by a polarizer or prism. The first beam and orthogonal beam are converted into electrical signals before a differential comparison of the signals is performed to detect a desired chiral species within the chiral mixture.