The Synthesis and Distribution of Carbon Nanostructures in the Interstellar Medium

Jacob J Bernal被授予数学和物理科学提升博士后研究奖学金（MPS-Ascend），在亚利桑那大学进行研究和教育项目。他将探索碳纳米结构（如富勒烯和纳米管）的合成和星际存在，这些碳纳米结构是由碳化硅（SiC）星周尘埃颗粒的激波加热产生的。富勒烯的天文探测改变了我们对星际介质（ISM）化学复杂性的理解。伯纳尔博士正在努力克服这样一种观念，即教育在历史上一直被用作同化和控制印第安人的工具，导致人们对高等教育机构产生持久的负面看法和不信任。Bernal及其合作者最近发表的研究结果表明，SiC颗粒的冲击加热产生了碳纳米芽，随后可以接近形成富勒烯。研究结果还指出，如果将SiC分子加热到更高的温度和更长的加热时间，就可以形成碳纳米管。这些纳米结构将成为ISM中已知的最大的分子，完全由还原碳组成，这些纳米管的破坏可能解释了之前检测到的复杂有机分子的存在。这可能会对陨石材料和天体生物学的研究产生影响。他将建立对Tohono O 'odham Nation天文台设施的认识，并证明STEM职业是可以实现的，同时留在部落的支持性当地社区结构中。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Jacob J Bernal is awarded a Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-Ascend) to conduct a program of research and education at the University of Arizona. He will explore the synthesis and interstellar presence of carbon nanostructures (such as fullerenes and nanotubes) from shock heating of silicon carbide (SiC) circumstellar dust grains. The astronomical detection of fullerenes transformed our understanding of chemical complexity in the Interstellar Medium (ISM). Dr. Bernal is working to overcome the perception that education has historically been used as a tool of assimilation and control of Native Americans, resulting in a lasting negative perception and distrust of higher learning institutions. Recent findings, published by Bernal and collaborators, revealed that shock heating of SiC grains produced carbon nanobuds, which can subsequently close to form fullerenes. The findings also point to formation of carbon nanotubes, if SiC molecules are heated to higher temperatures and longer heating durations. These nanostructures would become the largest known molecules in the ISM, consisting entirely of reduced carbon, and destruction of these nanotubes may account for the presence of previously detected complex organic molecules. This could have implications for studies of meteoritic materials and astrobiology. He will build awareness of astronomical observatory facilities on the Tohono O’odham Nation and demonstrate that STEM careers are attainable while remaining in the supportive local community structure of the Tribe.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.