Coarse-graining the structure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons clusters

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 13736-13740 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hernández-Rojas ◽  
F. Calvo ◽  
D. J. Wales
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Coarse Graining ◽  
Significant Fraction ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Carbon Matter

Clusters of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are essential components of soot and may concentrate a significant fraction of carbon matter in the interstellar medium.

Direct Spectroscopic Evidence for Ionized Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Interstellar Medium

1999 ◽  
Vol 513 (1) ◽  
pp. L65-L68 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Sloan ◽  
T. L. Hayward ◽  
L. J. Allamandola ◽  
J. D. Bregman ◽  
B. DeVito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Spectroscopic Evidence ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

scholarly journals Release of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fullerenes by cosmic rays from interstellar dust

2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A134 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Pino ◽  
M. Chabot ◽  
K. Béroff ◽  
M. Godard ◽  
F. Fernandez-Villoria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Interstellar Dust ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Molecular Fragments ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Molecular Compounds

Context. Top-down chemistry is believed to be responsible for the formation of the large molecular compounds such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-like molecules and the fullerenes observed in the interstellar medium. The release of these large molecules from the parent grains remains an important issue to be investigated. Aims. Cosmic rays irradiate the dust grains during their journey in the interstellar medium. In this study we probe to what extent electronic sputtering and/or desorption processes induced by high-energy ion projectiles contribute to the creation of the large molecular component in space. Methods. Carbonaceous dust analogues were produced in an ethylene flame. The resulting soot nanoparticles generated under well-defined conditions were irradiated by swift heavy ions, and mass spectra of the ionic and neutral molecular fragments emitted shortly after the impact were monitored. Results. Large molecular fragments were detected, including neutral and ionic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing up to several tens of carbon atoms, as well as ionic fullerenes. Although the absolute efficiencies were not obtained, these experiments provide a proof of principle of a top-down scenario involving interaction processes of interstellar dust with high-energy projectiles yielding large molecular compounds observed in space.

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