Organics produced by ion irradiation of ices: some recent results.
Some results, recently obtained from laboratory experiments of ion irradiation of ice mixtures containing H, C, N, and O, are here summarized. They are relevant to the formation and evolution of complex organics on interstellar dust, comets and other small bodies in the external Solar System. In particular the formation of CN-bearing species is discussed. Interstellar dust incorporated into primitive Solar System bodies and subsequently delivered to the early Earth, may have contributed to the origin of life. The delivery of CN-bearing species seems to have been necessary because molecules containing the cyanogen bond are difficult to be produced in an environment that is not strongly reducing as that of the early Earth probably was. Moreover we report on an ongoing research program concerning the interaction between refractory materials produced by ion irradiation of simple ices and biological materials (amino acids, proteins, cells).
Strazzulla
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Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, I-95123 Catania, Italy.
Palumbo
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D001128:Argon; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006371:Helium; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis*; D007477:Ions; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011522:Protons; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D007053:Ice; D007477:Ions; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D006371:Helium; D001128:Argon; D002244:Carbon; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane; D010100:Oxygen; D000432:Methanol