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Organic Synthesis in Simulated Interstellar Ice AnalogsComets and carbonaceous micrometeorites may have been significant sources of organic compounds on the early Earth. Ices on grains in interstellar dense molecular clouds contain a variety of simple molecules as well as aromatic molecules of various sizes. While in these clouds the icy grains are processed by ultraviolet light and cosmic radiation which produces more complex organic molecules. ID We have run laboratory simulations to identify the types of molecules which could have been generated photolytically in pre-cometary ices. Experiments were conducted by forming various realistic interstellar mixed-molecular ices with and without polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at approx. 10 K under high vacuum irradiated with LTV light from a hydrogen plasma lamp: The residue that remained after warming to room temperature was analyzed by HPLC, and by laser desorption mass spectrometry. The residue contains several classes of compounds which may be of prebiotic significance.
Document ID
20010050104
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dworkin, Jason P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Bernstein, Max P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Sandford, Scott A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Allamandola, Louis J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Deamer, David W.
(California Univ. Santa Cruz, CA United States)
Elsila, Jamie
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA United States)
Zare, Richard N.
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 624-08-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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