Search for a parity-violating energy difference between enantiomers of a chiral iron complex
Mossbauer spectra for l and d enantiomers of the Fe(phen)3Sb2(C4H2O6)(2);8H(2)O complex are reported. Four independent experiments show a small but reproducible energy shift of the Fe-Mossbauer spectra for the two enantiomers of 0.004+/-0. 002 mm/sec ( 1.9x10(-10) eV). This exceedingly small energy difference is comparable to that predicted by the parity-violating energy difference (PVED) using a Z6.2 scaling law applied to low Z ( Z = 6) molecules. Theoretical calculations suggest that the PVED for the Fe(phen)2+3 moiety should be smaller than this estimate, however, PVED effects of the chiral antimony tartrates are not taken into account.
Lahamer
AS
Department of Physics, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky 40404, USA.
Mahurin
SM
Compton
RN
House
D
Laerdahl
JK
Lein
M
Schwerdtfeger
P