Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Carlos Cabezas, Isabel Pena, Jose Cernicharo
Summary: The recent detection of cyanonaphthalenes in interstellar space has sparked interest in exploring other aromatic molecular species that may be present in similar environments. This study focuses on ethynyl derivatives of naphthalene as potential candidates to be observed in the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1), where cyanonaphthalenes, as well as cyano- and ethynyl-derivatives of cyclopentadiene and benzene, have already been found. The researchers have successfully observed the rotational spectra of 1- and 2-ethynylnaphthalene species for the first time, providing accurate spectroscopic parameters that will aid in future astronomical searches.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
S. Cazaux, H. Carrascosa, G. M. Munoz Caro, P. Caselli, A. Fuente, D. Navarro-Almaida, P. Riviere-Marichalar
Summary: This study investigates the behavior of sulfur in molecular clouds through experimental simulations and theoretical modelling. The results suggest that sulfur may exist in molecular clouds in the form of chains and undergo reactions when exposed to light. This finding has important implications for understanding the mechanism of sulfur depletion in molecular clouds.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Xiaoyi Hu, Zhenru Dong, Jia Liu, Junfeng Zhen, Liping Qin
Summary: By investigating the chemical reactivity of fullerene (C-60) cations and smaller fullerene (C-54/56/58) cations with hydrogen and C14H10 in the gas phase, this study reveals the efficient formation of hydrogenated fullerene-C14H10 cluster cations through ion-molecule collision reaction. H-atoms exhibit a higher tendency to accumulate on the surface of fullerenes than C14H10, and the bonding ability plays a crucial role in the formation processes. The competition between occupation and expulsion reaction channels on fullerene surfaces is confirmed.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Xiaoyi Hu, Yuanyuan Yang, Congcong Zhang, Yang Chen, Junfeng Zhen, Liping Qin
Summary: This study demonstrates experimentally that PAH-organic molecule clusters can gradually form through an ion-molecule collision reaction pathway in the presence of a strong galactic interstellar radiation field. These laboratory experiments provide a gas-phase growth route towards complex prebiotic compounds and insights into their chemical evolution behavior in the interstellar medium.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maria N. Drozdovskaya, Isaac R. H. G. I. Schroeder, Martin Rubin, Kathrin Altwegg, Ewine F. van Dishoeck, Beatrice M. Kulterer, Johan De Keyser, Stephen A. Fuselier, Michael Combi
Summary: Deuterated methanol provides insight into the chemical reactions forming deuterium-bearing molecules and the physicochemical history of celestial regions. The detection of mono- and di-deuterated methanol in a comet suggests formation through hydrogenation and substitution reactions, with a close relationship to D2O formation. The ratio of D-methanol/methanol in comets aligns with the composition in prestellar cores and low-mass protostellar regions, indicating a connection to the evolutionary phases of star formation.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
J. Cernicharo, C. Cabezas, Y. Endo, N. Marcelino, M. Agundez, B. Tercero, J. D. Gallego, P. de Vicente
Summary: The detection of the protonated form of C3S in TMC-1, HC3S+, was supported by observations, calculations, and laboratory measurements. Comparison of abundance ratios with other species showed the uniqueness of HC3S+ in terms of its abundance and formation pathways.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
C. Cabezas, M. Nakajima, C. H. Chang, M. Agundez, Y. Endo, J. Cernicharo
Summary: This study aimed to generate the HC3HCN radical and investigate its rotational spectrum. The rotational spectrum was characterized using a microwave spectrometer, and high-level ab initio calculations were used to support the spectral analysis. The results showed that the HC3HCN radical has not been detected in space.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Victor J. Herrero, Isabel Tanarro, Izaskun Jimenez-Serra, Hector Carrascosa, Guillermo M. Munoz Caro, Belen Mate
Summary: The recent detection of urea in the interstellar medium raises questions about its stability in different astronomical environments. This study found that the stability of urea ices and urea/water ice mixtures increases with temperature. Urea has high resistance to radiation damage, making it a good candidate for prebiotic chemistry.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Neubi F. Xavier, Antonio M. da Silva, Marco Sacchi, Glauco F. Bauerfeldt
Summary: In this study, the decarboxylation mechanism of glycine on a water-rich surface and on a glycine ice was simulated using density functional theory. The results show that the decomposition of glycine into CO2 and CH3NH2 is thermodynamically controlled in specific interstellar regions.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gang Zhao, Qiang Chang, Xia Zhang, Donghui Quan, Yong Zhang, Xiao-Hu Li
Summary: This study investigates the impact of hydrogen molecules on grain surfaces on the efficiency of H-2 formation in diffuse and translucent clouds. The diffusion barriers of H(2) on grain surfaces play a significant role in determining the influence of surface H(2) on H(2) formation efficiency. The recombination efficiency of H atoms in diffuse cloud models without surface H(2) is predicted to be above 0.5 over a temperature range of 10 to 14 K. However, in diffuse cloud models considering surface H(2), the recombination efficiency varies between nearly 0 and 0.5 at temperatures of 10 <= T <= 14 K, depending on model parameters. Translucent cloud models show that the existence of surface H(2) does not impact H(2) formation efficiency if the average H(2) diffusion barrier on grain surfaces is low (194 K). However, if a higher average H(2) diffusion barrier is used (255 K), the recombination efficiency can drop to below 0.002 at T >= 10 K.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Giuseppe Cassone, Franz Saija, Jiri Sponer, Judit E. Sponer, Antonio Jimenez-Escobar, Angela Ciaravella, Cesare Cecchi-Pestellini
Summary: The article investigates the role of ice in shaping the free-energy landscape of selected reactions using advanced molecular dynamics techniques. Ice acts not only as a gatherer of reactants, but also creates thermodynamic conditions favoring chemical evolution.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hexu Ye, Silvia Alessandrini, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: Sulphur is an important and ubiquitous element in the interstellar medium. This study finds that the reaction between H2CS and OH can produce isomers belonging to the CH2SO family, including trans-HC(S)OH and trans-HC(O)SH. The detection of trans-HC(O)SH suggests that trans-HC(S)OH is a promising candidate for astronomical observations.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. A. M. Paiva, S. Pilling, E. Mendoza, B. R. L. Galvao, H. A. De Abreu
Summary: This study explores a new gas-phase mechanism for the formation of glycolaldehyde and compares the reduction of energy barriers on amorphous ice surfaces. The average reduction of the energy barrier is found to be 49%, with some cases showing a 100% reduction. The adsorption energy of glycolaldehyde suggests its prompt desorption to the gas phase after formation. This work contributes to explaining the relative abundances of glycolaldehyde and provides a new methodological framework for studying the formation routes of complex organic molecules in interstellar icy grains.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Nicolas F. Barrera, Patricio Fuentealba, Francisco Munoz, Tatiana Gomez, Carlos Cardenas
Summary: Understanding the formation of H-2 molecule in the interstellar medium (ISM) is crucial to its overall chemistry, and it requires a third body as an energy reservoir. In this study, we simulated the collisions of hydrogen atoms with coronene using molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that H atoms readily adsorb and form H-2 on coronene, and the energy released in the reactions is dissipated and partitioned differently depending on the reaction site.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jessica Perrero, Piero Ugliengo, Cecilia Ceccarelli, Albert Rimola
Summary: Efficient synthesis of acetaldehyde from ethanol and/or ethyl radical occurs in the gas-phase, while radical-radical recombinations are traditionally invoked on grain-surfaces. However, recent studies have identified barriers and competitive side reactions, making this pathway less likely. This study investigates a new grain-surface reaction pathway involving the reaction between CH3 and a CO molecule on an ice composed of 75% water and 25% CO.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shannon M. MacKenzie, Marc Neveu, Alfonso F. Davila, Jonathan I. Lunine, Morgan L. Cable, Charity M. Phillips-Lander, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, J. Hunter Waite, Kate L. Craft, Jason D. Hofgartner, Chris P. McKay, Christopher R. Glein, Dana Burton, Samuel P. Kounaves, Richard A. Mathies, Steven D. Vance, Michael J. Malaska, Robert Gold, Christopher R. German, Krista M. Soderlund, Peter Willis, Caroline Freissinet, Alfred S. McEwen, John Robert Brucato, Jean-Pierre P. de Vera, Tori M. Hoehler, Jennifer Heldmann
Summary: Cassini's discoveries of Saturn's Moon Enceladus' subsurface ocean and plume offer the opportunity for further exploration of potential habitability and evidence of life.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
R. Martinez, A. Agnihotri, E. F. da Silveira, M. E. Palumbo, G. Strazzulla, P. Boduch, A. Domaracka, H. Rothard
Summary: Silicates are widely present in space and play a significant role in the surfaces of planets and small bodies. Irradiation by energetic cosmic particles induces structural changes and sputtering effects, affecting the physical and chemical properties of planetary surfaces. Experimental studies on irradiated silicates provide insights into the interaction between galactic cosmic rays, solar wind, solar energetic particles, and planetary surfaces.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Christian Lorenz, Elisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi, Stefano Loppi, Alessio Papini, Giovanni Poggiali, John Robert Brucato
Summary: This study evaluated the survival ability of Xanthoria parietina lichen under simulated space conditions. The results showed that it was able to survive in N-2 atmosphere and vacuum, and exhibited a certain level of physiological recovery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Andrea Meneghin, John Robert Brucato, Teresa Fornaro, Giovanni Poggiali
Summary: This study focuses on the examination of samples from Mars on Earth to determine if there is any presence of life. Various techniques have been proposed to investigate the potential biological risks and analyze the samples. The construction of a correlation matrix is used to evaluate the correlations between different analytical techniques and biosignatures.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Olivier Berne, Emilie Habart, Els Peeters, Alain Abergel, Edwin A. Bergin, Jeronimo Bernard-Salas, Emeric Bron, Jan Cami, Emmanuel Dartois, Asuncion Fuente, Javier R. Goicoechea, Karl D. Gordon, Yoko Okada, Takashi Onaka, Massimo Robberto, Markus Rollig, Alexander G. G. M. Tielens, Silvia Vicente, Mark G. Wolfire, Felipe Alarcon, C. Boersma, Amelie Canin, Ryan Chown, Daniel Dicken, David Languignon, Romane Le Gal, Marc W. Pound, Boris Trahin, Thomas Simmer, Ameek Sidhu, Dries Van de Putte, Sara Cuadrado, Claire Guilloteau, Alexandros Maragkoudakis, Bethany R. Schefter, Thiebaut Schirmer, Stephanie Cazaux, Isabel Aleman, Louis Allamandola, Rebecca Auchettl, Giuseppe Antonio Baratta, Salma Bejaoui, Partha P. Bera, Goranka Bilalbegovic, John H. Black, Francois Boulanger, Jordy Bouwman, Bernhard Brandl, Philippe Brechignac, Sandra Brunken, Andrew Burkhardt, Alessandra Candian, Jose Cernicharo, Marin Chabot, Shubhadip Chakraborty, Jason Champion, Sean W. J. Colgan, Ilsa R. Cooke, Audrey Coutens, Nick L. J. Cox, Karine Demyk, Jennifer Donovan Meyer, Cecile Engrand, Sacha Foschino, Pedro Garcia-Lario, Lisseth Gavilan, Maryvonne Gerin, Marie Godard, Carl A. Gottlieb, Pierre Guillard, Antoine Gusdorf, Patrick Hartigan, Jinhua He, Eric Herbst, Liv Hornekaer, Cornelia Jaeger, Eduardo Janot-Pacheco, Christine Joblin, Michael Kaufman, Francisca Kemper, Sarah Kendrew, Maria S. Kirsanova, Pamela Klaassen, Collin Knight, Sun Kwok, Alvaro Labiano, Thomas S-Y Lai, Timothy J. Lee, Bertrand Lefloch, Franck Le Petit, Aigen Li, Hendrik Linz, Cameron J. Mackie, Suzanne C. Madden, Joelle Mascetti, Brett A. McGuire, Pablo Merino, Elisabetta R. Micelotta, Karl Misselt, Jon A. Morse, Giacomo Mulas, Naslim Neelamkodan, Ryou Ohsawa, Alain Omont, Roberta Paladini, Maria Elisabetta Palumbo, Amit Pathak, Yvonne J. Pendleton, Annemieke Petrignani, Thomas Pino, Elena Puga, Naseem Rangwala, Mathias Rapacioli, Alessandra Ricca, Julia Roman-Duval, Joseph Roser, Evelyne Roueff, Gael Rouille, Farid Salama, Dinalva A. Sales, Karin Sandstrom, Peter Sarre, Ella Sciamma-O'Brien, Kris Sellgren, Matthew J. Shannon, Sachindev S. Shenoy, David Teyssier, Richard D. Thomas, Aditya Togi, Laurent Verstraete, Adolf N. Witt, Alwyn Wootten, Nathalie Ysard, Henning Zettergren, Yong Zhang, Ziwei E. Zhang, Junfeng Zhen
Summary: Massive stars disrupt the molecular cloud material through radiative and mechanical feedback processes, impacting the evolution of interstellar matter. Observations of Photo-Dissociation Regions (PDRs) provide insights into physical and chemical processes in interstellar and circumstellar media. PDR emission dominates infrared spectra of star-forming galaxies and will be a focus of observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC
(2022)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
N. Burgio, L. Cretara, M. Corcione, M. Frullini, L. Iannascoli, A. Nascetti, A. Santagata, G. Palmerini, A. Quintino, J. R. Brucato, A. Meneghin, D. Paglialunga
Summary: This paper investigates the radiation effects on the ABCS payload in the inner Van Allen belt and proposes shielding solutions. It also performs simulations of neutron irradiation on the ABCS structure. The results show that a shielding solution consisting of tungsten, resins, and aluminium can effectively reduce the radiation dose.
RADIATION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY AND METHODS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Giovanni Poggiali, M. Matsuoka, M. A. Barucci, J. R. Brucato, P. Beck, S. Fornasier, A. Doressoundiram, F. Merlin, A. Alberini
Summary: This article reviews past spectroscopic observations of the Martian moons and presents new laboratory measurements. Preliminary results indicate that the surface of Phobos and Deimos may contain a significant amount of dark components or minerals produced by space weathering.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lidia Mezzina, Angelo Nicosia, Giuseppe Antonio Baratta, Maria Elisabetta Palumbo, Carlotta Scire, Placido Giuseppe Mineo
Summary: As space exploration missions become more frequent, the effects of space radiation on polymers, which are versatile and suitable for advanced applications, are not yet fully understood.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
R. G. Urso, E. Henault, R. Brunetto, D. Baklouti, G. A. Baratta, Z. Djouadi, A. Elsaesser, C. Scire, G. Strazzulla, M. E. Palumbo
Summary: Investigated the role of energetic ions in the formation of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde observed in the ISM and comets, finding that their abundance depends on the dose and stoichiometry of the mixture.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alessandro Pisello, Matteo Bisolfati, Giovanni Poggiali, Pietro Tolomei, Eleonora Braschi, John Robert Brucato, Diego Perugini
Summary: Volcanic products, including lava flows and volcanic ash, are widely found on Mercury. Silicate glasses are a major component in these volcanic products and the regolith on Mercury likely contains a significant amount of glassy material. In the lab, a Mercury-like silicate glass was created and 14 powdered samples with different granulometric characteristics were obtained. The reflectance of these samples in the mid-infrared region was studied and the results will be important for interpreting data collected by the BepiColombo mission.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. K. McClure, W. R. M. Rocha, K. M. Pontoppidan, N. Crouzet, L. E. U. Chu, E. Dartois, T. Lamberts, J. A. Noble, Y. J. Pendleton, G. Perotti, D. Qasim, M. G. Rachid, Z. L. Smith, Fengwu Sun, Tracy L. Beck, A. C. A. Boogert, W. A. Brown, P. Caselli, S. B. Charnley, Herma M. Cuppen, H. Dickinson, M. N. Drozdovskaya, E. Egami, J. Erkal, H. Fraser, R. T. Garrod, D. Harsono, S. Ioppolo, I. Jimenez-Serra, M. Jin, J. K. Jorgensen, L. E. Kristensen, D. C. Lis, M. R. S. McCoustra, Brett A. McGuire, G. J. Melnick, Karin I. Oberg, M. E. Palumbo, T. Shimonishi, J. A. Sturm, E. F. van Dishoeck, H. Linnartz
Summary: Icy grain mantles in interstellar clouds are important reservoirs of volatile elements that connect chemical processes with planet formation and atmospheric composition. Results from the Ice Age program using the James Webb Space Telescope reveal the rich composition of these dense cloud ices, showing the detection of weak ice features and complex organic molecules. The study suggests that simple and complex molecules can form early in ice-rich environments and JWST can trace the molecules seen in planetary atmospheres back to their origins in interstellar clouds.
Article
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
Duncan V. Mifsud, Peter Herczku, Bela Sulik, Zoltan Juhasz, Istvan Vajda, Istvan Rajta, Sergio Ioppolo, Nigel J. Mason, Giovanni Strazzulla, Zuzana Kanuchova
Summary: The organic chemistry in interstellar environments plays a crucial role in the formation of complex molecules relevant to the origins of life. This study investigates the irradiation of CH4:H2O ice mixtures using 1 MeV protons and 2 keV electrons at 20 K. The results show the formation of various new products, including simple and complex molecules such as C2H6, C3H8, C2H2, CH3OH, CO, CO2, and potentially H2CO. Interestingly, proton irradiation leads to a higher abundance of radiolytic daughter molecules compared to electron irradiation, despite a lower radiation dose administered. These findings are important for understanding radiation astrochemistry in interstellar clouds and Solar System objects.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
G. Strazzulla, M. E. Palumbo, P. Boduch, H. Rothard
Summary: An essential requirement for life on Earth is the continuous cycling of key atoms and molecules. This study investigates the cycling of certain species in the icy moons of Jupiter, which are exposed to energetic particles from the planet's magnetosphere. The results show that carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur atoms go through various cycles on the icy surfaces of these moons. These findings have implications for future space observations conducted by the JWST telescope and the JUICE spacecraft.
EARTH MOON AND PLANETS
(2023)