Organic chemistry in Titan's atmosphere: new data from laboratory simulations at low temperature

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Many experiments have already been carried out to simulate organic chemistry on Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn. They can provide fruitful information on the nature of minor organic constituents likely to be present in Titan's atmosphere, both in gas and aerosol phases. Indeed, all the organic compounds but one already detected in Titan's atmosphere have been identified in simulation experiments. The exception, C_4N_2, as well as other compounds expected in Titan from theoretical modeling, such as other N-organics, and polyynes, first of all C_6H_2, have never been detected in experimental simulation thus far. All these compounds are thermally unstable, and the temperature conditions used during the simulation experiments were not appropriate. We have recently started a new program of simulation experiments with temperature conditions close to that of Titan's environment. It also uses dedicated analytical techniques and procedures compatible with the analysis of organics only stable at low temperatures, as well solid products of low stability in the presence of O_2 and H_2O. Spark discharge of N_2-CH_4 gas mixtures was carried out at low temperature in the range 100-150 K. Products were analysed by FTIR, GC and GC-MS techniques. GC-peaks were identified by their mass spectrum, and, in most cases, by comparison of the retention time and mass spectrum with standard ones. We report here the first detection in Titan simulation experiments of C_6H_2 and HC_5N. Their abundance is a few percent relative to C_4H_2 and HC_3N, respectively. Preliminary data on the solid products indicate an elemental composition corresponding to (H_11C_11N)_n. These results open new prospects in the modeling of Titan's haze making.

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