Chirally sensitive electron-induced molecular breakup and the Vester-Ulbricht hypothesis

Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Sep 12;113(11):118103. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.118103. Epub 2014 Sep 12.

Abstract

We have studied dissociative electron attachment in sub-eV collisions between longitudinally polarized electrons and chiral bromocamphor molecules. For a given target enantiomer, the dissociative Br anion production depends on the helicity of the incident electrons, with an asymmetry that depends on the electron energy and is of order 3×10^{-4}. The existence of chiral sensitivity in a well-defined molecular breakup reaction demonstrates the viability of the Vester-Ulbrict hypothesis, namely, that the longitudinal polarization of cosmic beta radiation was responsible for the origins of biological homochirality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Camphor / analogs & derivatives
  • Camphor / chemistry*
  • Electrons*
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation
  • Optics and Photonics / methods
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • Camphor