In this paper we present analysis and design of a chiral lens that is used to split a linearly polarized Gaussian beam into right-circularly and left-circularly polarized beams traveling in different directions. It will be shown that split beams remain Gaussian if the curvature of the lens is large in comparison with the beam width. Moreover, the split angle can be varied by changing the point of beam incidence on the curved surface of the lens. Parameters like the beam width and cross-polarization ratio for the split beams are derived and computed. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union