Formation of Organic Compounds in Simulated Interstellar Media with High Energy Particles

Abiotic formation of amino acid precursors in interstellar dusts (ISDs) by cosmic radiation was quantitatively examined. In order to study the formation of organic compounds in ISDs, ice mixtures of carbon monoxide (or methane), ammonia, and water made in a cryostat at 10 K were irradiated with high energy protons. Irradiated ice products were warmed up to room temperature, while sublimed gases were analyzed with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Some hydrocarbons and alcohols were detected. Amino acid precursors, which gave amino acids after acid-hydrolysis, were detected in non-volatile products remaining on the substrate at room temperature. G-values of glycine precursors from methanol, ammonia, and water in solid state irradiation were about 6 × 10−4, which was about two orders less than those in gasous state irradiation. The present results suggest that a considerable amount of organic compounds formed in extraterrestrial environments were supplied to the primitive earth before the origin of life.