The Molecules of Life: Incorporation of Oxygen into Planetary Atmospheric Hazes

Sarah Horst博士被授予NSF天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在科罗拉多大学开展研究和教育计划。由于行星气溶胶的现场测量的局限性，特别是在早期地球和太阳系外行星大气的情况下现场测量的不可能性，实验室实验提供了行星大气的理论模型和其观测特性的现实之间的必要桥梁。观测到的太阳系外行星大气的成分，以及早期地球大气的成分限制不佳，表明实验室实验需要研究有机分子和气溶胶的产生，以获得比以前考虑的更广泛的气体成分。这里提出的研究将利用科罗拉多大学世界级的气溶胶模拟和分析设施，调查氧气对气溶胶形成和成分的影响。这项研究还将调查实验室能源的选择如何影响气溶胶的形成和组成，这将进一步加深我们对实验室实验中存在的偏差的理解，并使实验室实验结果更准确地应用于行星大气。Horst博士的研究将提高我们对可能形成气溶胶的行星大气范围的理解，并增加我们对氧气如何被纳入有机分子的理解，这可能对生命的起源有影响。霍斯特博士还将与美国天文学会行星科学部和美国宇航局科学使命理事会合作，年度DPS会议。参加研讨会的教师将与行星科学家或天文学家配对，在接下来的一年里与他们和他们的学生互动。

Dr. Sarah Horst is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the University of Colorado. Due to the limitations of in situ measurements of planetary aerosols, and in particular the impossibility of in situ measurements in the cases of the atmospheres of the early Earth and extrasolar planets, laboratory experiments provide a necessary bridge between theoretical models of planetary atmospheres and the reality of their observed properties. The observed compositions of extrasolar planet atmospheres, and the poorly constrained composition of early Earth's atmosphere, indicate that laboratory experiments need to investigate organic molecule and aerosol production for a broader range of gaseous compositions than previously considered. The research proposed here will take advantage of the world-class aerosol simulation and analysis facilities at the University of Colorado to investigate the effect that oxygen has on aerosol formation and composition. This research will also investigate how choice of laboratory energy source affects aerosol formation and composition, which will further our understanding of the biases present in laboratory experiments and allow for more accurate application of the results of laboratory experiments to planetary atmospheres. Dr. Horst's research will improve our understanding of the range of planetary atmospheres where aerosols may form and increase our understanding of how oxygen is incorporated into organic molecules, which may have implications for the origin of life.Dr. Horst will also work with the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society and the NASA Science Mission Directorate to host a teacher workshop each year in conjunction with the annual DPS meeting. The teachers that attend the workshop will be paired with a planetary scientist or astronomer to interact with them and their students throughout the following year.