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Utilization of spectroscopy in the determination of the origins of life

Utilization of spectroscopy in the determination of the origins of life. Helgi Rafn Hróðmarsson Friday seminar 28.03.14. Overview. Setting the stage „In the beginnning...“ The spectroscopy „He saw the light was good and separated it from darkness.“ The implications

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Utilization of spectroscopy in the determination of the origins of life

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  1. Utilization of spectroscopy in the determination of the origins of life Helgi Rafn Hróðmarsson Friday seminar 28.03.14

  2. Overview • Setting the stage • „In the beginnning...“ • The spectroscopy • „He saw the light was good and separated it from darkness.“ • The implications • “Then the eyes of both of them were opened.”

  3. Overview • Setting the stage • „In the beginnning...“ • The spectroscopy • „He saw the light was good and separated it from darkness.“ • The implications • “Then the eyes of both of them were opened.”

  4. Overview • Setting the stage • „In the beginnning...“ • The spectroscopy • „He saw the light was good and separated it from darkness.“ • The implications • “Then the eyes of both of them were opened.”

  5. 1968 – Interstellar NH3.1 • 1969 – Interstellar H2O vapour2 & H2CO.3 • 1970 – Interstellar CO.4 1Cheung, A. C., Rank, D. M. Townes, C. H., Thornton, D. D., and Welch, W. J. 1969, Phys. Rev. Letters.21, 1701. 2Cheung, A. C., Rank, D. M., Townes, C. H., Thornton, D.D. And Welch, W. J. 1969, Nature. 221, 626. 3Snyder, L.E., Buhl, D., Zuckerman, B., and Palmer, P. 1969, Phys. Rev. Lett., 22, 679. 4Wilson, R. W., Jefferts, K. B. And Penzias, A. A. 1970, Astrophys. J. Lett. 161, L43.

  6. White, G. J., Araki, M., Greaves, J. S., Ohishi, M., and Higginbottom, N. S. 2003. A&A, 407, 589.

  7. Walmsley, C. M., & Ungerecths, H. 1983, A&A, 122, 164.

  8. Infrared spectroscopy

  9. What if we compile all of the interstellar and circumstellar molecules that have been detected with these spectroscopic techniques? • Well... According toWikipedia... • 43 Diatomics, 41 triatomics, 26 with four atoms, 19 with five atoms, 15 with six atoms, 9 with seven atoms, 10 with eight atoms, 9 with nine atoms, 15 with ten or more atoms and 17 deuterated molecules. • 204 different molecules altogether who‘s ingredients include H, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ti, Fe, I.

  10. „Mixtures of free molecular PAHs dominated by PAH ions, can account for the global appearance of interstellar emission spectra and the variations of those spectra.“ -Allamandola & Hudgins. Solid State Astrochemistry. 2000, pp.263. • Then what???

  11. THE NASA Ames PAH Spectral Database • 580 theoretically computed and 200 laboratory measured spectra of PAHs ranging in size from C10H8 to C130H28. • Spectra of PAHs in neutral and singly charged (+/–) states. Spectra of a few multiply charged species also included. • www.astrochem.org/pahdb

  12. -Allamandola & Hudgins. Solid State Astrochemistry. 2000, pp.265-267.

  13. H2O:CH3OH:NH3:CO:C3H8 (100:50:10:10:10) interstellar ice analogs as traced by infrared spectra measured at 10 K. • Note the ready formation of CO2, H2CO, CH4 and XCN at the expense of CH3OH. • Allamandola, L. J., Sandford, S. A., and Valero, G. (1988), Icarus, 76, 225.

  14. Bernstein, M. P., Sandford S. A., Allamandola L. J., Chang S., and Scharberg M. A. (1995), Ap. J., 454, 327.

  15. Interstellar/Precometary Ice Photolysis: Abiotic synthesis of Important Prebiotic Organics • N-Formyl glycine • Cycloserine • Hydantoin • Amino malonic acid • Urea • Ethanolamine • Serine • Glyeric Acid • Glycerol • Bernstein, et al.(2002), Nature, 416, 401. • All the necessary components to make an RNA world. • Sugar precursors • Amino acids • Molecules capable of vesicle formation.

  16. Deamer, D. W. Evolution: Ivestigating the Evidence, Paleontological Society Special Publication. 1999, 9. • Deamer, D. W. 2012, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 5375.

  17. Overview • Setting the stage • „In the beginnning...“ • The spectroscopy • „He saw the light was good and separated it from darkness.“ • The implications • “Then the eyes of both of them were opened.”

  18. Conclusion • Microwave and infrared spectroscopy have been used to detect a wide variety of interstellar molecules and illuminate properties of their stellar environments. • Infrared spectroscopy utilized in chemical simulations of reactions on interstellar ices. • Various studies have been performed on amphiphilic vesicle forming molecules.

  19. Thank you for your attention!

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