Circular Polarization in Star- Formation Regions: Implications for Biomolecular Homochirality

Abstract

Strong infrared circular polarization resulting from dust scattering in reflection nebulae in the Orion OMC-1 star-formation region has been observed. Circular polarization at shorter wavelengths might have been important in inducing chiral asymmetry in interstellar organic molecules that could be subsequently delivered to the early Earth by comets, interplanetary dust particles, or meteors. This could account for the excess of L-amino acids found in the Murchison meteorite and could explain the origin of the homochirality of biological molecules.

L’espace « péridermique » : une interface biophysique à l’usage des cliniciens

“…[3] ont découvert en radioastronomie, une source significative de ce rayonnement polarisé circulairement, à 17 % dans l'infrarouge, en provenance de la nébuleuse d'Orion (précisément dans la région de formation de l'étoile Orion OMC-1) [4]. La biophotonique initiée par Fritz-Albert Popp va poursuivre les mesures de cette émission de lumière, à l'aide de photomultiplicateurs extrêmement sensibles.…”

Special Issue: Abstracts From the 2008 Issol Meeting

“…One of the possible scenario for the generation of enantiomeric excesses of amino acids are asymmetric formation or decomposition of amino acids by circular polarized light in space. Bailey found circular polarized light of IR range in space (Bailey, et al 1998). Takano et al…”

“…Some of these amino acids, clearly of non-biological origin, show an excess of one enantiomer over the other (Pizzarello and Cronin 2000). One of the mechanisms discussed for triggering this break of symmetry is asymmetric photochemistry in interstellar/ circumstellar matter by means of circularly polarized light (Bailey et al 1998, Lucas et al 2005, Buschermöhle et al 2005. A very powerful tool for the study of the molecules that undergo such photochemical reactions is Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.…”

E

“…Strong infrared circular polarization, resulting from dust scattering in reflection nebulae in the Orion OMC-1 star-formation region, has been observed (Bailey et al 1998). Circular polarization at shorter wavelengths might have been important in inducing chiral asymmetry in interstellar organic molecules that could be subsequently delivered to the early Earth (Bailey 2001).…”