Amplification of weak magnetic field effects on oscillating reactions

Thomas C. Player; Edward D. A. Baxter; Sarah Allatt; P. J. Hore

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88871-8

Scientific Reports (May 2021)

Amplification of weak magnetic field effects on oscillating reactions

Thomas C. Player,
Edward D. A. Baxter,
Sarah Allatt,
P. J. Hore

Affiliations

Thomas C. Player: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
Edward D. A. Baxter: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
Sarah Allatt: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
P. J. Hore: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88871-8
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract We explore the possibility that chemical feedback and autocatalysis in oscillating chemical reactions could amplify weak magnetic field effects on the rate constant of one of the constituent reactions, assumed to proceed via a radical pair mechanism. Using the Brusselator model oscillator, we find that the amplitude of limit cycle oscillations in the concentrations of reaction intermediates can be extraordinarily sensitive to minute changes in the rate constant of the initiation step. The relevance of such amplification to biological effects of 50/60 Hz electromagnetic fields is discussed.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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