Processing of methane and acetylene ices by galactic cosmic rays and implications to the color diversity of Kuiper Belt objects - Archive ouverte HAL
Article Dans Une Revue Science Advances Année : 2023

Processing of methane and acetylene ices by galactic cosmic rays and implications to the color diversity of Kuiper Belt objects

Chaojiang Zhang
Cheng Zhu
Andrew Turner
Ivan Antonov
Adrien Garcia
Cornelia Meinert
Leslie Young
Ralf Kaiser

Résumé

Kuiper Belt objects exhibit a wider color range than any other solar system population. The origin of this color diversity is unknown, but likely the result of the prolonged irradiation of organic materials by galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). Here, we combine ultrahigh-vacuum irradiation experiments with comprehensive spectroscopic analyses to examine the color evolution during GCR processing methane and acetylene under Kuiper Belt conditions. This study replicates the colors of a population of Kuiper Belt objects such as Makemake, Orcus, and Salacia. Aromatic structural units carrying up to three rings as in phenanthrene (C 14 H 10 ), phenalene (C 9 H 10 ), and acenaphthylene (C 12 H 8 ), of which some carry structural motives of DNA and RNA connected via unsaturated linkers, were found to play a key role in producing the reddish colors. These studies demonstrate the level of molecular complexity synthesized of GCR processing hydrocarbon and hint at the role played by irradiated ice in the early production of biological precursor molecules.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
2023_sciadv.adg6936_PAH.pdf (1.64 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte

Dates et versions

hal-04112774 , version 1 (01-06-2023)

Identifiants

Citer

Chaojiang Zhang, Cheng Zhu, Andrew Turner, Ivan Antonov, Adrien Garcia, et al.. Processing of methane and acetylene ices by galactic cosmic rays and implications to the color diversity of Kuiper Belt objects. Science Advances , 2023, 9 (22), pp.eadg6936. ⟨10.1126/sciadv.adg6936⟩. ⟨hal-04112774⟩
21 Consultations
20 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

More