Project description
Looking for the interstellar glycine precursor via carbon chemistry in our cosmos
Organic molecules are abundant in the interstellar medium (ISM) and other places in our universe. Better understanding of their origin and evolution and their journey from early molecular clouds to Earth will give an insight into the emergence of life on our planet and potentially others. Methylamine, CH3NH2, is the simplest amine and is considered a precursor to interstellar glycine, one of 22 amino acids that form all our proteins. The EU-funded CP-FTmmW Aminogen project is characterising the molecular structure and chemical properties of two intermediate products resulting from the extraction of hydrogen atoms from CH3NH2 by ultraviolet light or oxidation. Although these processes are common in the ISM and the earth's atmosphere, neither product has been directly observed or discovered in the ISM. Measurements will help scientists search for their existence in the ISM.
Objective
To elucidate our understanding of amine chemistry in the interstellar medium (ISM), we propose a two-year project to study the physical and chemical properties of CH3NH and CH2NH2, the two simplest substituted aminogen radicals, using the state-of-the-art chirped pulse Fourier transform (sub)millimeter rotational spectroscopy. Amines are important N-bearing molecules in the ISM and planetary atmospheres, as well as a trace molecule released to the Earth's atmosphere via various human activities. The simplest prime amine, CH3NH2, is proposed to be the precursors of interstellar glycine, the simplest amino acid. The physical and chemical properties of CH3NH and CH2NH2, however, are far from well understood. CH3NH and CH2NH2 are the intermediate products formed during the H-abstraction of CH3NH2 by UV photolysis or oxidation, which are important processes both in the ISM and in the Earth's atmosphere.
These two radicals, however, are not directly observed in the H-abstraction process, neither have they been discovered in the ISM. Direct measurement of these radicals via rotational spectroscopy will provide us with detailed information about their molecular structure and chemical properties, which can be further used to search for their existence in the ISM, to study the reaction dynamics of H-abstraction of CH3NH2, and to determining their molecular structure and internal motions. The results will improve our understanding of the role of CH3NH2 in the chemistry of N-bearing molecules in the ISM and in planetary atmospheres. In this proposal, we will elaborate the approach and the implementation of the objective of the direct measurement of CH3NH and CH2NH2. Support information about the researcher, the supervisor, and the host institution is also provided.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
59000 Lille
France