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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling
Published on: December 12, 2014
Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: possible implications for homochirality
J H Hough1, J A Bailey, A Chrysostomou
1Physical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, England.
Abstract:
Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.
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