Production of complex molecules in astrophysical ices

Abstract

The inventory of interstellar and solar system molecules now numbers well over 100 species, including both ions and neutrals. Gas-phase formation routes to many of the observed organics are still uncertain, so that solid-phase syntheses are of interest. Low-temperature reactions are thought to occur within interstellar ices, on ice and grain surfaces in the interstellar medium (ISM), and on icy surfaces of solar system objects (e.g., Europa, Pluto). Ionizing radiation, such as cosmic rays, and far-UV photons are two possible initiators of such chemistry. In the Cosmic Ice Lab at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, we can study both the photo- and radiation-induced chemistries of ices at 8-300 K. Our most-recent work has been motivated by the detections of ethylene glycol, HOCH2CH2OH, in the ISM (Hollis et al. 2002) and in comet Hale-Bopp (Crovisier et al. 2002). Ethylene glycol is currently the largest firmly-identified cometary molecule as well as one of the larger interstellar organics. It's formation and accompanying chemistry provide challenges and tests for current astrochemical thought. Here we discuss laboratory experiments on ethylene glycol's solid-phase formation and destruction. Using infrared spectroscopy, we have identified low-temperature radiation-chemical pathways that lead from known interstellar ices, such as either CH3OH or H2O and CO, to ethylene glycol. We also have identified a role for ethylene glycol in the formation of glycolaldehyde, HOCH2C(O)H, a simple sugar (Hollis, Lovas, & Jewell 2000). Related to these results are the 6- and 7-atom molecules formed by oxidation and reduction processes in irradiated H2O + C2H2 ices. Analogous experiments have been conducted on two other triply-bonded molecules in H 2O-rich ice, HCN and N2. An important focus of our work is the development of reaction schemes for the formation of complex molecules within astrochemically-relevant ices, and the use of such schemes to predict new molecules awaiting detection. © 2006 International Astronomical Union.