Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998baas...30r1103s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #30, #46.P10; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 30, p.1103
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
To account for the present atmosphere of Titan, scenarios considered include the photodissociation or the shock heating of primordial NH_3 to yield N_2. During the conversion from an NH_3 to an N_2 atmosphere in these scenarios, both NH_2 and N will be present. The interaction of these species via the rapid N + NH_2 reaction has not been considered to date. Two previous laboratory studies were interpreted in terms of the process: N + NH_2 -> N_2 + 2H. In direct discharge flow-photoionization mass spectrometry (DF-PIMS) experiments at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), we have detected the N_2H_2 molecule as a product of the N + NH_2 reaction based on a measurement of the known PIMS spectrum and threshold for N_2H_2. This suggests the additional reaction channel: N + NH_2 -> N_2H_2. In the primodial atmosphere of Titan, N_2H_2 may futher react or perhaps thermally decompose, in either case leading to N_2 formation. In the present atmosphere of Titan, reaction of N with hydrocarbon free radicals leads to formation of products containing the CN bond. We measured the PIMS spectra and thresholds for the products of the N + C_2H_3 reaction in DF-PIMS experiments at the NSLS. We observed that the C_2H_3N adduct species formed was exclusively the lowest energy isomer CH_3CN. However, the major product, the C_2H_2N free radical, was shown not to be the lowest energy isomer CH_2CN. There are five known C_2H_2N isomers and identification of the isomer or isomers formed in the N + C_2H_3 reaction requires additional information on the PIMS spectrum and threshold for each of the remaining four isomers. Although CH_3CN has been observed in the atmosphere of Titan, the reaction N + C_2H_3 -> CH_3CN is not the only potential source of this molecule.
Klemm R. B.
Kuo Shao-Chih
Nesbitt Fred L.
Stief Louis J.
Thorn R. P.
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