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

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.”

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.”

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.”

1968 – Interstellar NH – Interstellar H 2 O vapour 2 & H 2 CO – Interstellar CO. 4 1 Cheung, A. C., Rank, D. M. Townes, C. H., Thornton, D. D., and Welch, W. J. 1969, Phys. Rev. Letters. 21, Cheung, A. C., Rank, D. M., Townes, C. H., Thornton, D.D. And Welch, W. J. 1969, Nature. 221, Snyder, L.E., Buhl, D., Zuckerman, B., and Palmer, P. 1969, Phys. Rev. Lett., 22, Wilson, R. W., Jefferts, K. B. And Penzias, A. A. 1970, Astrophys. J. Lett. 161, L43.

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

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

Infrared spectroscopy

What if we compile all of the interstellar and circumstellar molecules that have been detected with these spectroscopic techniques? Well... According toWikipedia 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.

Then what??? „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.

THE NASA Ames PAH Spectral Database 580 theoretically computed and 200 laboratory measured spectra of PAHs ranging in size from C 10 H 8 to C 130 H 28. Spectra of PAHs in neutral and singly charged (+/–) states. Spectra of a few multiply charged species also included.

-Allamandola & Hudgins. Solid State Astrochemistry. 2000, pp

H 2 O:CH 3 OH:NH 3 : CO:C 3 H 8 (100:50:10:10:10) interstellar ice analogs as traced by infrared spectra measured at 10 K. Note the ready formation of CO 2, H 2 CO, CH 4 and XCN at the expense of CH 3 OH. Allamandola, L. J., Sandford, S. A., and Valero, G. (1988), Icarus, 76, 225.

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

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.

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

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.”

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.

Thank you for your attention!