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Cosmic chirality both true and false.

Authors :
Barron LD
Source :
Chirality [Chirality] 2012 Dec; Vol. 24 (12), pp. 957-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Aug 28.
Publication Year :
2012

Abstract

The discrete symmetries of parity P, time reversal T, and charge conjugation C may be used to characterize the properties of chiral systems. It is well known that parity violation infiltrates into ordinary matter via an interaction between the nucleons and electrons, mediated by the Z(0) particle, that lifts the degeneracy of the mirror-image enantiomers of a chiral molecule. Being odd under P but even under T, this P-violating interaction exhibits true chirality and so may induce absolute enantioselection under all circumstances. It has been suggested that CP violation may also infiltrate into ordinary matter via a P-odd, T-odd interaction mediated by the (as yet undetected) axion. This CP-violating interaction exhibits false chirality and so may induce absolute enantioselection in processes far from equilibrium. Both true and false cosmic chirality should be considered together as possible sources of homochirality in the molecules of life.<br /> (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1520-636X
Volume :
24
Issue :
12
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Chirality
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
22930646
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/chir.22106