Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies
A deep understanding of the origin of life requires the physical, chemical, and biological study of prebiotic systems and the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying their evolutionary steps. In this context, great attention is paid to the class of interstellar molecules known as “Complex Organic...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/6/568 |
| _version_ | 1797529842329059328 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniele Fulvio Alexey Potapov Jiao He Thomas Henning |
| author_facet | Daniele Fulvio Alexey Potapov Jiao He Thomas Henning |
| author_sort | Daniele Fulvio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A deep understanding of the origin of life requires the physical, chemical, and biological study of prebiotic systems and the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying their evolutionary steps. In this context, great attention is paid to the class of interstellar molecules known as “Complex Organic Molecules” (COMs), considered as possible precursors of prebiotic species. Although COMs have already been detected in different astrophysical environments (such as interstellar clouds, protostars, and protoplanetary disks) and in comets, the physical–chemical mechanisms underlying their formation are not yet fully understood. In this framework, a unique contribution comes from laboratory experiments specifically designed to mimic the conditions found in space. We present a review of experimental studies on the formation and evolution of COMs in the solid state, i.e., within ices of astrophysical interest, devoting special attention to the in situ detection and analysis techniques commonly used in laboratory astrochemistry. We discuss their main strengths and weaknesses and provide a perspective view on novel techniques, which may help in overcoming the current experimental challenges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:20:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-80fe5bfe3b424eaa81c88fbbe36455f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:20:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-80fe5bfe3b424eaa81c88fbbe36455f92023-11-22T00:27:37ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-06-0111656810.3390/life11060568Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State StudiesDaniele Fulvio0Alexey Potapov1Jiao He2Thomas Henning3Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Salita Moiariello 16, 80131 Naples, ItalyLaboratory Astrophysics Group of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Solid State Physics, Helmholtzweg 3, 07743 Jena, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, GermanyA deep understanding of the origin of life requires the physical, chemical, and biological study of prebiotic systems and the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying their evolutionary steps. In this context, great attention is paid to the class of interstellar molecules known as “Complex Organic Molecules” (COMs), considered as possible precursors of prebiotic species. Although COMs have already been detected in different astrophysical environments (such as interstellar clouds, protostars, and protoplanetary disks) and in comets, the physical–chemical mechanisms underlying their formation are not yet fully understood. In this framework, a unique contribution comes from laboratory experiments specifically designed to mimic the conditions found in space. We present a review of experimental studies on the formation and evolution of COMs in the solid state, i.e., within ices of astrophysical interest, devoting special attention to the in situ detection and analysis techniques commonly used in laboratory astrochemistry. We discuss their main strengths and weaknesses and provide a perspective view on novel techniques, which may help in overcoming the current experimental challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/6/568complex organic moleculesastrobiologyastrochemistryinterstellar mediummolecular icessolid state |
| spellingShingle | Daniele Fulvio Alexey Potapov Jiao He Thomas Henning Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies Life complex organic molecules astrobiology astrochemistry interstellar medium molecular ices solid state |
| title | Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies |
| title_full | Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies |
| title_fullStr | Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies |
| title_short | Astrochemical Pathways to Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules: Experimental Perspectives for In Situ Solid-State Studies |
| title_sort | astrochemical pathways to complex organic and prebiotic molecules experimental perspectives for in situ solid state studies |
| topic | complex organic molecules astrobiology astrochemistry interstellar medium molecular ices solid state |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/6/568 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielefulvio astrochemicalpathwaystocomplexorganicandprebioticmoleculesexperimentalperspectivesforinsitusolidstatestudies AT alexeypotapov astrochemicalpathwaystocomplexorganicandprebioticmoleculesexperimentalperspectivesforinsitusolidstatestudies AT jiaohe astrochemicalpathwaystocomplexorganicandprebioticmoleculesexperimentalperspectivesforinsitusolidstatestudies AT thomashenning astrochemicalpathwaystocomplexorganicandprebioticmoleculesexperimentalperspectivesforinsitusolidstatestudies |