Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessGas phase synthesis of the C40 nano bowl C40H10
Nanobowls represent building blocks of fullerenes and nanotubes as detected in combustion systems and deep space, but their formation mechanisms in these environments have remained elusive. Here, the authors explore the gas-phase formation of benzocorannulene and beyond to the C40 nanobowl.
- Lotefa B. Tuli
- , Shane J. Goettl
- & Ralf I. Kaiser
-
Article
| Open AccessEfficient stabilization of cyanonaphthalene by fast radiative cooling and implications for the resilience of small PAHs in interstellar clouds
The abundances of small Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) observed in interstellar clouds has surprised astronomers and confounded astrochemical models. Here, the authors show that fast radiative cooling by Recurrent Fluorescence efficiently stabilizes the small PAH cation 1-cyanonaphthalene.
- Mark H. Stockett
- , James N. Bull
- & Boxing Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessNeutron-upscattering enhancement of the triple-alpha process
The triple-alpha process plays a role in nucleosynthesis, in the formation of 12C. Here, the authors discuss the rate and role of the neutron upscattering phenomenon on the triple-alpha process in a multi-step process.
- J. Bishop
- , C. E. Parker
- & C. Wheldon
-
Article
| Open AccessSurvival of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon knockout fragments in the interstellar medium
Ion storage rings allow reactions to be studied over orders of magnitude in time, bridging the gap between typical experimental and astronomical timescales. Here the authors observe that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fragments produced upon collision with He atoms at velocities typical of stellar winds and supernova shockwaves remain intact up to second timescales, thus may play an important role in interstellar chemistry.
- Michael Gatchell
- , João Ameixa
- & Henning Zettergren
-
Article
| Open AccessLaboratory disruption of scaled astrophysical outflows by a misaligned magnetic field
Mass outflow is a common process in astrophysical objects. Here the authors investigate in which conditions an astrophysically-scaled laser-produced plasma flow can be collimated and evolves in the presence of a misaligned external magnetic field.
- G. Revet
- , B. Khiar
- & J. Fuchs
-
Article
| Open AccessObservations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles
Magnetic fields can be reorganized by plasma flows and lead to effects such as magnetic reconnection. Here the authors explore the evolution of magnetized-plasma bubbles in a semi-collisional regime and the role of pressure anisotropy in influencing the flow of the laser-produced plasma.
- E. R. Tubman
- , A. S. Joglekar
- & N. C. Woolsey
-
Article
| Open AccessDemonstration of X-ray Thomson scattering as diagnostics for miscibility in warm dense matter
It is challenging to reliably probe the miscibility behavior of elements in extreme conditions. Here, the authors use X-ray Thomson scattering and compare to the X-ray diffraction method in order to determine mixing of different atomic species in warm dense matter conditions.
- S. Frydrych
- , J. Vorberger
- & D. Kraus
-
Article
| Open AccessPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation chemistry in a plasma jet revealed by IR-UV action spectroscopy
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in the interstellar medium but their origin is unclear. Here the authors investigate large PAH formation from smaller PAHs in a plasma jet by mass-selective IR and UV laser spectroscopy, uncovering diacetylene radical addition as formation mechanism.
- Alexander K. Lemmens
- , Daniël B. Rap
- & Anouk M. Rijs
-
Article
| Open AccessNucleobase synthesis in interstellar ices
The formation of nucleobases can take place in extraterrestrial environments. Here the authors show the simultaneous synthesis of three purine nucleobases and three pyrimidine from interstellar ice analogues that suggest the evolution from molecular clouds to stars and planets provide suitable environment for nucleobase synthesis in space.
- Yasuhiro Oba
- , Yoshinori Takano
- & Akira Kouchi
-
Article
| Open AccessStrong and selective isotope effect in the vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation branching ratios of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is the main C and O reservoir in interstellar media, where it undergoes photochemistry. The authors show that isotopic substitution affects not only its absorption. spectrum and photodissociation rates but also the branching ratio, key to understand isotopic. fractionation in the solar system
- Pan Jiang
- , Xiaoping Chi
- & Hong Gao
-
Article
| Open AccessDeoxyribose and deoxysugar derivatives from photoprocessed astrophysical ice analogues and comparison to meteorites
Sugars are known to form from the UV photoprocessing of ices under astrophysical conditions. Here, the authors report the detection of deoxyribose, the sugar of DNA, and other deoxysugars from the UV photoprocessing of H2O:CH3OH ice mixtures, which are compared with materials from carbonaceous meteorites.
- Michel Nuevo
- , George Cooper
- & Scott A. Sandford