Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of the O(2) Herzberg Bands

Magnetic circular dichroism in Archean atmosphere and asymmetric photolysis of biomolecules: enantiomeric excess of prebiotic sugar

In the terrestrial dipolar magnetic field, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of UV sunlight by paramagnetic O₂ in an Archean atmosphere (mostly CO₂ and N₂) results in circular polarization anisotropy (~ 10^-10). This is used to calculate enantiomeric excess (EE~10^-13) of glyceraldehyde (3-carbon sugar) with a model that includes racemic production and asymmetric photolysis of its enantiomers. The sign and magnitude of enantiomeric excess (EE) vary with the Earth's latitude. Unlike random noise fluctuation in spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking (SMSB) models, the sign of EE is deterministic and constant over large areas of prebiotic Earth. The magnitude is several orders greater than the mean amplitude of stochastically fluctuating EE. MCD could provide the initial EE for growth of homochirality by asymmetric autocatalysis.

Enantiomeric excess by magnetic circular dichroism in Archaean atmosphere

Evolution of homochirality requires an initial enantiomeric excess (EE) between right and left-handed biomolecules. We show that magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of sun's ultraviolet C light by oxygen in Archaean earth's anoxic atmosphere followed by chirally selective damage of biomolecules due to circular dichroism (CD) can generate EE of correct handedness. Our calculation of EE uses published data for CD of biomolecules and accepted magnitude for Archaean earth's magnetic field. Independent of atmospheric oxygen concentration calculated EE has the same sign for all pyrimidine nucleosides which is opposite to that for amino-acids. Purine nucleosides have smaller EE values with opposite sign to pyrimidines but are less susceptible to UV damage. Homochirality is explained by origin of prebiotic life in one hemisphere of earth and its evolution to EE ~ ± 1 before reversal of terrestrial magnetic field. Chirality of biomolecules is decided by the direction of magnetic field where prebiotic life originated on Archaean earth.

Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of the O(2) Herzberg Bands. III. Absorption Cross Sections of the Collision-Induced Bands and of the Herzberg Continuum

Absorption spectra of molecular oxygen were measured in the laboratory under temperature and pressure conditions prevailing in the Earth's atmosphere. Spectra of pure O(2), O(2) + N(2), and O(2) + Ar were recorded in the 41 700 to 33 000 cm(-1) region (240-300 nm) at a maximal optical path difference of 0.45 cm using a Fourier transform spectrometer and a multiple reflection gas cell. The different components of the spectra, namely the discrete bands of the three Herzberg systems, the Herzberg continuum, and the collision-induced diffuse Wulf bands, were separated. The contribution of the Herzberg bands was first subtracted using the line parameters determined previously [A. Jenouvrier, M.-F. Mérienne, B. Coquart, M. Carleer, S. Fally, A. C. Vandaele, C. Hermans, and R. Colin, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 198, 136-162 (1999)] from high-resolution data. Spectra recorded at various pressures then made it possible to determine by linear regression the intensity of the Wulf bands and the Herzberg continuum. The characteristics of the Wulf bands have been investigated in details: vibrational analysis, pressure effect, foreign gas effect, and a simulated spectrum are reported. The Herzberg continuum cross section is determined below the dissociation limit. A comparison with literature data is given. The new O(2) absorption cross sections and O(2)-O(2) collision-induced absorption cross sections are useful in connection with atmospheric measurements of ozone and other trace gases in the UV spectral region. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.