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Terrestrial and Astronomical Sources of Circular Polarisation: A Fresh Look at the Origin of OF Homochirality on Earth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2017

Ramon D. Wolstencroft
Ramon D. Wolstencroft*
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, U.K.

Abstract

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In searching for a terrestrial source of circular polarization that could be an agent for homochirality, I have re-discovered earlier work by Ivanoff & Waterman (1958) showing that total internal reflection of sunlight scattered by water or suspended particles can, in calm shallow waters such as tidal pools, yield a degree of circular polarization >10% in favourable directions. A terrestrial source would have the distinct advantage over an astronomical source that the perilous journey to the planetary surface is eliminated. The relative viability of this mechanism is compared with the widely discussed astronomical mechanism of Bailey et al. (1998).

Type
Astrochemistry
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 213: Bioastronomy 2002: Life Among the stars , 2004 , pp. 154 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2004 

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