Published December 22, 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

Chirality-dependent macroscopic force between chiral molecules and achiral matter

  • 1. Department of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074 (China)

Description

A non-zero macroscopic chirality-dependent force between achiral matter and homochiral molecules due to the exchange of light particles is shown theoretically. It has the opposite sign for molecules with opposite chirality. As an example, this force between a copper block and a vessel of chiral molecules (methyl phenyl carbinol nitrite) is calculated in the crystal field theory. The magnitude of the force is estimated with the published limits of scalar and pseudo-scalar coupling constants. Its possible influence to the gravitational experiments testing the equivalence principle is discussed as well

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2008.10.082

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.physleta.2008.10.082;
arXiv
arXiv:0805.1294v2;
PII
S0375-9601(08)01593-4;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics Letters. A
Journal Volume
373
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 9-12
ISSN
0375-9601
CODEN
PYLAAG

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.