Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PROMISES (Presence and Role of Organic Matter in Icy Satellites and ExtraSolar planets)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2025-03-31
There is growing evidence that heavy organic molecules are a major component of the outer solar system bodies such as icy moons, asteroides, 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.
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 two types of high-pressure devices: diamond anvil cells (DAC) coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy or X-ray diffractometer, and Internally Heated Pressure Vessels (IHPV) that allow the characterization of the products by Gas Chromatography for the gas phase and FT-ICR MS for the organic phase. 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.
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 two types of high-pressure devices: diamond anvil cells (DAC) coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy or X-ray diffractometer, and Internally Heated Pressure Vessels (IHPV) that allow the characterization of the products by Gas Chromatography for the gas phase and FT-ICR MS for the organic phase. 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.
Activities
Equipement: Raman spectrometer is ordered after choice of the vendor (Renishaw)
Diamond Anvil Cell experiments (DAC) with Raman spectra of the organic material is operational and used routinely
Organics produced in the nebulotron device are analyzed with FT-ICR MS
X-Ray diffractometers are acquired on samples processed in DACs
First set of large volume experiments are conducted in Internally Heated Pressure Vessels (IHPV)
Samples processed in IHPV are analyzed at FT-ICR MS facility
Gas produced during the degradation of the samples in the IHPVs are analyzed by Gas Chromatography
First version of the thermo-chemical code is validated
The enthalpy code describing heat and mass transfer through HP ice layer is validated
Main achievements
The demonstration that the building blocks of large icy moons and dwarf planets include a large fraction (up to 20%) of organic molecules (Paper 1 and Paper 4)
Organics produced in the nebulotron device (Fig. 2) are good analogs of primitive organic matter analysed in meteorites (Paper 2)
Primitive organic molecules are made of thousands of organic molecules, mainly condensed aromatics. The degree of aromaticity decreases with increasing Nitrogen content (Paper 2)
An equation of state for the organic matter (Paper 5)
Experimental constraints on the evolution of primitive organic molecules during the differentiation stage of icy moons and ice-rich planets, (Paper 6)
Equipement: Raman spectrometer is ordered after choice of the vendor (Renishaw)
Diamond Anvil Cell experiments (DAC) with Raman spectra of the organic material is operational and used routinely
Organics produced in the nebulotron device are analyzed with FT-ICR MS
X-Ray diffractometers are acquired on samples processed in DACs
First set of large volume experiments are conducted in Internally Heated Pressure Vessels (IHPV)
Samples processed in IHPV are analyzed at FT-ICR MS facility
Gas produced during the degradation of the samples in the IHPVs are analyzed by Gas Chromatography
First version of the thermo-chemical code is validated
The enthalpy code describing heat and mass transfer through HP ice layer is validated
Main achievements
The demonstration that the building blocks of large icy moons and dwarf planets include a large fraction (up to 20%) of organic molecules (Paper 1 and Paper 4)
Organics produced in the nebulotron device (Fig. 2) are good analogs of primitive organic matter analysed in meteorites (Paper 2)
Primitive organic molecules are made of thousands of organic molecules, mainly condensed aromatics. The degree of aromaticity decreases with increasing Nitrogen content (Paper 2)
An equation of state for the organic matter (Paper 5)
Experimental constraints on the evolution of primitive organic molecules during the differentiation stage of icy moons and ice-rich planets, (Paper 6)
Role of Nitrogen on the aromaticity factor of organics produced in the proto planetary disk
Data set on the composition of organic analogs of the primordial organics produced in the protoplanetary disk
Development of a kinetics code to interprate the results of degradation (graphitization) of carbonaceous organic matter
Establishment of an equation of state for carbonaceous organic matter
Data set on the composition of organic analogs of the primordial organics produced in the protoplanetary disk
Development of a kinetics code to interprate the results of degradation (graphitization) of carbonaceous organic matter
Establishment of an equation of state for carbonaceous organic matter