Formation of Bioorganic Compounds in Simulated Planetary Atmospheres by High Energy Particles or Photons

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0273-1177(01)00049-7 Various types of organic compounds have been detected in Jupiter, Titan, and cometary coma. It is probable that organic compounds were formed in primitive Earth and Mars atmospheres. Cosmic rays and solar UV are believed to be two major energy sources for organic formation in space. We examined energetics of organic formation in simulated planetary atmospheres. Gas mixtures including…

Amino acid formation induced by high-power laser in CO2/CO-N2-H2O gas mixtures

Authors: S. Civiš, L. Juha, D. Babánková, J. Cvačka, O. Frank, J. Jehlička, B. Králiková, J. Krása, P. Kubát, A. Muck, M. Pfeifer, J. Skála, J. Ullschmied In a mixture of molecular gases with compositions (CO2–N2–H2O and CO–N2–H2O) and total pressure close to that of the EarthÕs early atmospheres, a centimeter-sized plasma was created by focusing a single 85-J, 450-ps…

Amino acids generated from hydrated Titan tholins: Comparison with Miller–Urey electric discharge products

Authors: H.J. Cleaves II, C. Neish, M.P. Callahan, E. Parker, F.M. Fernández, J.P. Dworkin Various analogues of Titan haze particles (termed ‘tholins’) have been made in the laboratory. In certain geologic environments on Titan, these haze particles may come into contact with aqueous ammonia (NH3) solutions, hydrolyzing them into molecules of astrobiological interest. A Titan tholin analogue hydrolyzed in aqueous…

Radiolysis of Aqueous Methane Solutions

Authors: G.C. Stevens, R.M. Clarke, E.J. Hart The gamma-ray and electron pulse irradiation of aqueous methane and some ethane solutions is reported. The ab- sorption spectra of the CH3 and C2H5 free radicals have been measured in the wavelength range 210-270 nm. At 210 nm e(CH3) = 850 M-1 cm-1 and e(C2Hs) = 520 M-1 cm-1. The bimolecular recombination rate…

On the Radiolysis of Ethylene Ices by Energetic Electrons and Implications to the Extraterrestrial Hydrocarbon Chemistry

Authors: L. Zhou, S. Maity, M. Abplanalp, A. Turner, R.I. Kaiser The chemical processing of ethylene ices (C2H4) by energetic electrons was investigated at 11 K to simulate the energy transfer processes and synthesis of new molecules induced by secondary electrons generated in the track of galactic cosmic ray particles. A combination of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (solid state) and…

Pulse Radiolysis Study of Concentrated Phosphoric Acid Solutions

Authors: P. Jiang, Y. Katsumura, M. Domae, K. Ishikawa, R. Nagaishi, K. Ishigure In the pulse radiolysis of concentrated phosphoric acid solutions, the direct action of radiation on phosphoric acid gives rise to the phosphate radical. The yields of the phosphate radical and the hydroxyl radical are proportional, respectively, to the electron fractions of phosphoric acid and water, and can…

Nitrogen compounds’ formation in aqueous solutions under high ionizing radiation: An overview

Authors: G.R. Dey Generation of NO-3 and NO-2 in aqueous phase within high ionizing radiation zone is normal phenomena. Their formation mechanisms, and controls still remain a challenge with reference to creation of corrosive environment. Nitrogen in such system relates mainly to air ingress, and from added nitrogen compounds, which are used to control pH and dissolved oxygen. Under radiation…

Multi-Scale Modeling of the Gamma Radiolysis of Nitrate Solutions

Authors: G.P. Home, T.A. Donoclift, H.E. Sims, R.M. Orr, S.M. Pimblott A multiscale modeling approach has been developed for the extended time scale long- term radiolysis of aqueous systems. The approach uses a combination of stochastic track structure and track chemistry as well as deterministic homogeneous chemistry techniques and involves four key stages: radiation track structure simulation, the subsequent physicochemical…