| |
 |
| Paper: |
Remote Detection of Biological Activity using Circular Polarization of Light |
| Volume: |
430, Pathways Towards Habitable Planets |
| Page: |
543 |
| Authors: |
Sparks, W. B. |
| Abstract: |
The identification of a universal biosignature that could be sensed remotely is critical to the prospects for success in the search for life elsewhere in the universe. A candidate universal biosignature is homochirality, which is likely to be a generic property of all biochemical life. Due to the optical activity of chiral biological molecules, this unique characteristic may provide a suitable remote sensing probe using circular polarization spectroscopy. Photosynthetic microbial organisms are of major importance to astrobiology, are plausibly commonplace, and are amenable to remote sensing. We show that their circular polarization spectra exhibit distinctive polarization features. Circular polarization spectroscopy could provide a powerful remote sensing technique for generic life searches. |
|
|
|
|
|
