Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010apj...718.1243z&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 718, Issue 2, pp. 1243-1251 (2010).
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
3
Astrochemistry, Comets: General, Methods: Laboratory, Molecular Processes, Planets And Satellites: Individual: Titan
Scientific paper
The aromatic benzene molecule (C6H6)—a central building block of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules—is of crucial importance for the understanding of the organic chemistry of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Here, we show via laboratory experiments and electronic structure calculations that the benzene molecule can be formed on Titan's surface in situ via non-equilibrium chemistry by cosmic-ray processing of low-temperature acetylene (C2H2) ices. The actual yield of benzene depends strongly on the surface coverage. We suggest that the cosmic-ray-mediated chemistry on Titan's surface could be the dominant source of benzene, i.e., a factor of at least two orders of magnitude higher compared to previously modeled precipitation rates, in those regions of the surface which have a high surface coverage of acetylene.
Kaiser Ralf I.
Landera Alexander
Liang Mao-Chang
Mebel Alexander M.
Yung Yuk L.
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