Organosulfur Compounds Formed by Sulfur Ion Bombardment of Astrophysical Ice Analogs: Implications for Moons, Comets, and Kuiper Belt Objects

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur are the main elements involved in the solid-phase chemistry of various astrophysical environments. Among these elements, sulfur chemistry is probably the least well understood. We investigated whether sulfur ion bombardment within simple astrophysical i...

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Published inAstrophysical journal. Letters Vol. 885; no. 2; p. L40
Main Authors Ruf, Alexander, Bouquet, Alexis, Boduch, Philippe, Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe, Vinogradoff, Vassilissa, Duvernay, Fabrice, Urso, Riccardo Giovanni, Brunetto, Rosario, Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt, Louis, Mousis, Olivier, Danger, Grégoire
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Austin The American Astronomical Society 10.11.2019
IOP Publishing
Bristol : IOP Publishing
Subjects
Ammonia
Analogs
Astrobiology
Astrochemistry
Astrophysics
Atomic properties
Chemistry
Classical Kuiper belt objects
Comets
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Experimental techniques
Habitability
Hydrogen
Ion bombardment
Ion implantation
Kuiper belt
Laboratory astrophysics
Organic chemistry
Organosulfur compounds
Oxygen
Physics
Pluto
Sciences of the Universe
Solid phases
Sulfur
Trans-Neptunian objects
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Summary:Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur are the main elements involved in the solid-phase chemistry of various astrophysical environments. Among these elements, sulfur chemistry is probably the least well understood. We investigated whether sulfur ion bombardment within simple astrophysical ice analogs (originating from H2O:CH3OH:NH3, 2:1:1) could trigger the formation of complex organosulfur molecules. Over 1100 organosulfur (CHNOS) molecular formulas (12% of all assigned signals) were detected in resulting refractory residues within a broad mass range (from 100 to 900 amu, atomic mass unit). This finding indicates a diverse, rich and active sulfur chemistry that could be relevant for Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) ices, triggered by high-energy ion implantation. The putative presence of organosulfur compounds within KBO ices or on other icy bodies might influence our view on the search of habitability and biosignatures.
Bibliography:AAS19583
ISSN:2041-8205
2041-8213
DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/ab4e9f