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NASA NTRS · 20040172977

Organic synthesis in experimental impact shocks

McKay, C. P.·Borucki, W. J.
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Abstract

Laboratory simulations of shocks created with a high-energy laser demonstrate that the efficacy of organic production depends on the molecular, not just the elemental composition of the shocked gas. In a methane-rich mixture that simulates a low-temperature equilibrium mixture of cometary material, hydrogen cyanide and acetylene were produced with yields of 5 x 10(17) molecules per joule. Repeated shocking of the methane-rich mixture produced amine groups, suggesting the possible synthesis of amino acids. No organic molecules were produced in a carbon dioxide-rich mixture, which is at odds with thermodynamic equilibrium approaches to shock chemistry and has implications for the modeling of shock-produced organic molecules on early Earth.

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NASA Discipline ExobiologyNASA Discipline Number 52-80NASA Program ExobiologyNASA Center ARCEvolution, ChemicalMethane/chemistryMeteoroidsAcetylene/chemistryAmines/chemistryHydrogen Cyanide/chemistryCarbon Dioxide/chemistryLasersGasesAmino Acids/chemistryHeatThermodynamicsSupport, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S

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McKay, C. P., Borucki, W. J.. 1997-04-18. Organic synthesis in experimental impact shocks. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20040172977

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