 using a modal matching theory , we demonstrate the generation 
 of 
 short - range , chiral electromagnetic fields via the excitation of arrays 
 of staggered nanoslits that are chiral in two dimensions . 
 the electromagnetic 
 near fields , which exhibit a chiral density greater than that of circularly 
 polarized light , can enhance the chiroptical interactions in the vicinity 
 of the nanoslits . 
 we discuss the features of nanostructure symmetry 
 required to obtain the chiral fields and explicitly show how these 
 structures can give rise to detection and characterization of materials 
 with chiral symmetry . 
Supplementary Material