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PUBLICATIONS

Remote sensing of chiral signatures on Mars

Published

Author(s)

William Sparks, James H. Hough, Thomas Germer, Frank Robb, Ludmilla Kolokolova

Abstract

We describe circular polarization as a remote sensing diagnostic of chiral signatures which may be applied to Mars. The remarkable phenomenon of homochirality provides a unique biosignature which can be amenable to remote sensing through circular polarization spectroscopy. Observations of selected areas of the Mars surface could reveal chiral signatures and hence explore the possibility of extant or preserved biological material.
Citation
Planetary and Space Science
Volume
72
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

DOI Link

Keywords

Homochirality, Mars, Polarimetry
Optical physics and communications, Optical / photometry / laser metrology and Bioscience

Citation

Sparks, W. , Hough, J. , Germer, T. , Robb, F. and Kolokolova, L. (2012), Remote sensing of chiral signatures on Mars, Planetary and Space Science, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.08.010 (Accessed October 13, 2025)

Issues

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Created October 31, 2012, Updated October 12, 2021
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