Radical-induced chemistry from VUV photolysis of interstellar ice analogues containing formaldehyde

Teddy Butscher (1) , Fabrice Duvernay (1) , Grégoire Danger (1) , Thierry Chiavassa (1)

1 PIIM - Physique des interactions ioniques et moléculaires

Surface processes and radical chemistry within interstellar ices are increasingly suspected to play an important role in the formation of complex organic molecules (COMs) observed in several astrophysical regions and cometary environments. We present new laboratory experiments on the low-temperature solid state formation of complex organic molecules – glycolaldehyde, ethylene glycol, and polyoxymethylene – through radical-induced reactivity from VUV photolysis of formaldehyde in water-free and water-dominated ices. Radical reactivity and endogenous formation of COMs were monitored in situ via infrared spectroscopy in the solid state and post photolysis with temperature programmed desorption (TPD) using a quadripole mass spectrometer. We show the ability of free radicals to be stored when formed at low temperature in water-dominated ices, and to react with other radicals or on double bonds of unsaturated molecules when the temperature increases. It experimentally confirms the role of thermal diffusion in radical reactivity. We propose a new pathway for formaldehyde polymerisation induced by HCO radicals that might explain some observations made by the Ptolemy instrument on board the Rosetta lander Philae. In addition, our results seem to indicate that H-atom additions on H 2 CO proceed preferentially through CH 2 OH intermediate radicals rather than the CH 3 O radical.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Chemical Sciences; Theoretical and/or physical chemistry

Teddy Butscher, Fabrice Duvernay, Grégoire Danger, Thierry Chiavassa. Radical-induced chemistry from VUV photolysis of interstellar ice analogues containing formaldehyde. Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2016, 593, pp.A60. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201628258⟩. ⟨hal-01451877⟩