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Complex organics in laboratory simulations of interstellar/cometary ices
M P Bernstein1, L J Allamandola, S A Sandford
1NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA.
Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Photochemical and thermal processing of interstellar ices creates complex organic molecules. These findings are crucial for understanding the origins of life in space and on comets.
Area of Science:
- Astrochemistry
- Astrobiology
- Planetary Science
Background:
- Interstellar and pre-cometary grains are coated with non-polar and polar ices.
- These ices are composed of simple molecules like O2, N2, CO, H2O, CH3OH, and NH3.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photochemical and thermal evolution of interstellar and pre-cometary ice analogs.
- To identify the resulting organic molecules and their implications for astrobiology.
Main Methods:
- Simulated interstellar ice analogs (non-polar and polar) were subjected to ultraviolet (UV) photolysis and thermal processing.
- Products were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Main Results:
- UV photolysis of non-polar ices yielded CO2, N2O, O3, and other species.
- UV irradiation of polar ices produced H2, H2CO, CO2, and HCO.
- Warming led to the formation of moderately complex organics like ethanol, formamide, acetamide, and nitriles.
- A complex organic residue, primarily hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and polyoxymethylene (POM), remained after warming to room temperature.
Conclusions:
- The processing of simple ices under astrophysical conditions generates complex organic molecules, including those found in the interstellar medium.
- These findings highlight the importance of grain surface chemistry in producing prebiotic molecules relevant to the origins of life on comets and early Earth.