Organic residues from ultraviolet irradiation of interstellar ice analogs

¹ Université Paris-Sud 11, Astrochimie et Origines, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, UMR 8617, 91405 Orsay, France
² CNRS, 9145 Orsay, France
³ Université Paris-Sud 11, IPNO, UMR 8608, 91405 Orsay, France
⁴ Lebanese Atomic energy Commission, National Council for Scientific Research, PO Box 11-8281, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract

Interstellar ices are widely observed in the infrared spectra of regions where stars and planetary systems form. Photochemical and thermal evolution of these ices is simulated and studied in our laboratory where the resulting production of complex organic residues is routinely performed. Observations of their variability with slightly different starting chemical conditions can be performed by means of infrared spectroscopy. Organic residues have interesting chemical properties that make them good potential candidates for prebiotic chemistry. Numerous other analytical methods (GC-MS, HPLC, mass spectrometry, etc.) can be combined to refine the knowledge of their chemical composition and structure. We present here some results on the obtained organic residue resulting from subsequent heating and sublimation of the irradiated ices which show the formation of some macromolecular species.