Projektbeschreibung
Studie untersucht, wie organische Stoffe die Entwicklung eisiger Welten geprägt haben
Forschungsergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass schwere organische Moleküle einen großen Teil der Körper des äußeren Sonnensystems, wie Eismonde, Kometen und transneptunische Objekte, ausmachen. Bislang wurde das Vorhandensein von kohlenstoffhaltigen organischen Stoffen, einer organischen Komponente mit geringer Dichte, weitgehend übersehen. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt PROMISES zielt darauf ab, die Wechselwirkung von kohlenstoffhaltigen organischen Stoffen mit Eis und Gestein zu erforschen, um das Verständnis für die Entwicklung von Ozeanwelten und die Beurteilung ihres Potenzials, Leben zu beherbergen, deutlich zu steigern. Für die Synthese des Materials werden die Forschenden eine Hochdruckvorrichtung, eine sogenannte Diamantstempelzelle, verwenden. Außerdem werden sie neue Modelle zur Untersuchung der chemischen Reaktionen und thermochemischen Eigenschaften der interagierenden schweren organischen Moleküle entwickeln.
Ziel
There is growing evidence that heavy organic molecules are a major component of the outer solar system bodies such as icy moons, comets, and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Density profiles inferred from measurements of space missions require a low-density component in the core of the largest objects such as Ganymede and Titan. These observations suggest that a previously overlooked low-density component, identified as carbonaceous organic matter (COM), is one of the three main components, in addition to ice and rocks, building planetary bodies that formed beyond the ice line. However, there is a dearth of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations exploring the interaction of the heavy organic molecules constituting the COM with both the ice component (mainly H2O ices) and the rocky component (hydrated silicates, oxides and sulphides) at pressures relevant to icy moons. Observations from space missions also demonstrated that most icy moons are differentiated into a refractory core and an outer hydrosphere that includes a liquid layer (deep ocean), thus the name of ocean worlds. This raises the questions of the emergence of life at the ocean/core interface and of the habitability of ocean worlds. How does the presence of COM affect the thermal and chemical evolution of ocean worlds? The interaction between COM, ice and rocks is therefore essential for understanding the evolution of ocean worlds and for assessing their habitability potential. First, this project conducts laboratory experiments using diamond anvil cells (DAC) coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy, a combination that is best suited for this kind of investigation. Second, it develops a thermochemical evolution model that can handle the chemical reactions and the thermo-chemical properties of the three components. Third, it applies the results to the evolution of ocean worlds in our solar system and beyond.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
Schlüsselbegriffe
Programm/Programme
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
ERC - Support for frontier research (ERC)Gastgebende Einrichtung
44000 Nantes
Frankreich