The formation of heavy hydrocarbons in molecular clouds

Details The formation of heavy hydrocarbons in molecular clouds The formation of heavy hydrocarbons in molecular clouds

Aug 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001esasp.496..417v&link_type=abstract

In: Exo-/astro-biology. Proceedings of the First European Workshop, 21 - 23 May 2001, ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. Eds.: P. Ehrenfreu

Biology

Molecular Clouds, Hydrocarbons

Scientific paper

We use laboratory data on the conversion of solid methane into large hydrocarbons by particle radiation to estimate the fraction of interstellar carbon converted by this process into organics. We find that the maximum fraction of carbon that can be converted into large hydrocarbons during the life of a dense core within an interstellar cloud is in the range of 1 - 5 percent. The implication of this result is that, in order for enough carbon to be converted into organics, frequent passage of material into and out of dense cores is required. If so, then interstellar clouds must exist for at least 10 million years. However, these conclusions should be regarded as preliminary until confirmed by further laboratory studies of the particle irradiation of complex ice mixtures.

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