Shock synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from benzene: Its role in astrophysical processes

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 21; no. 18; pp. 2071 - 2074
• Main Authors: Mimura, Koichi, Kato, Manabu, Sugisaki, Ryuichi, Handa, Nobuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Geophysical Union 01.09.1994; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Astronomy; Benzene; Comets and Small Bodies; Composition; Cosmic dust; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental aspects of astrophysics; Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations; Geophysics; Hydrocarbons; Interplanetary dust; Interplanetary Physics; Interstellar; Meteorites; Molecular and chemical processes and interactions; Naphthalene; Physics and chemistry of materials; Planetology; Shock waves; Space Plasma Physics; Synthesis; Laboratory study; Shock waves; Interplanetary matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Benzene; Interstellar matter
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/94GL01591

It was experimentally shown that shock waves generated by projectile impact cause a reaction between benzene molecules to produce heavier aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, biphenyl, phenanthrene, and chrysene. Most of these shock induced‐molecules are detected in meteorites and cosmic dusts; some in interstellar environments. Such processes may have operated during shock events in interstellar environments.