Synthesis and degradation of prebiotic molecular species at planetary atmospheres, comets and interstellar ice analogs

Abstract

With the help of modern radiostronomy more than 150 molecular species, including hydrocarbons, nitriles, acids, alcohols and others, have been detected in the interestelar medium, comets and planetary/lunar atmospheres. Additionally, meteorites analysis have been revealed the presence of several prebiotic compounds (e.g., amino acids, DNA/RNA nitrogen bases, sugars, etc.). These investigations have suggested that Earth´s life could have an extraterrestrial origin. Therefore, the understanding about formation/destruction processes of these prebiotic species at astrophysical environments becomes essential. In this project we will perform experimental investigation of the formation of prebiotic molecules by UV photochemical processing of condensed simple gas mixtures (H2O, CO, CH4, NH3, etc.) simulating the processing of astrophysical ices (e.g., comets, interstellar grains, etc.). Inside a ultra-high vacuum chamber, the gases will be adsorbed into a cryogenic surface (10K) and then processed by very intense UV light from a hydrogen lamp. The sample will be analyzed in-situ by 2 different of spectrometers (FTIR and Q-MS) and by a gas-chromatograph (GC-MS). Besides the identification and quantification of new molecular compounds, their formation and dissociation cross-sections, reaction rates and life times will be determined. This scientific proposal will start the experimental astrochemistry research field in our institute. (AU)