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Paper   IPM / P / 14656
School of Physics
  Title:   Validity Examination of the Dissipative Quantum Model of Olfaction
  Author(s): 
1.  A. Tirandaz
2.  F. Taher Ghahramani
3.  V. Salari
  Status:   Published
  Journal: Scientific Reports
  Vol.:  7
  Year:  2017
  Pages:   4432
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
The validity of the dissipative quantum model of olfaction has not been examined yet and therefore the model suffers from the lack of experimental support. Here, we generalize the model and propose a numerical analysis of the dissipative odorant-mediated inelastic electron tunneling mechanism of olfaction, to be used as a potential examination in experiments. Our analysis gives several predictions on the model such as efficiency of elastic and inelastic tunneling of electrons through odorants, sensitivity thresholds in terms of temperature and pressure, isotopic effect on sensitivity, and the chiral recognition for discrimination between the similar and different scents. Our predictions should yield new knowledge to design new experimental protocols for testing the validity of the model.

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