Similarity of the infrared spectrum of an Orgueil organic polymer with interstellar organic compounds in the line of sight towards IRS 7.
We present a comparison between the IR spectrum of the galactic center source IRS 7 and the spectrum of a carbonaceous polymer from the Orgueil meteorite. We have obtained an almost perfect match between the two spectra in the region between 3020-2790 cm-1, which suggests that the chemical composition of the interstellar organic matter and that of the meteorite polymer are similar or that the meteoritic polymer could be a well preserved interstellar organic molecule. Assuming that the meteoritic polymer has the same C/H ratio as these interstellar molecules, we find that 45 % of the total abundance of carbon in the line of sight toward IRS 7 is trapped in such an interstellar organic grain material.
Ehrenfreund
P
P
Groupe de Physique des Solides, Universite Paris 7, France.
Robert
F
F
d'Hendecourt
L
L
D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D019110:Meteoroids; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011108:Polymers; D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen