Investigation of organic chemical evolution on extraterrestrial planetary bodies

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K13873
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sekine Yasuhito 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (60431897)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 太陽系形成 / 有機合成 / 巨大天体衝突 / 化学進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study performed exploratory research to investigate organic syntheses occurred within exo-oceans of icy bodies in the Solar system toward understanding of the mechanisms and variety of chemical evolution beyond Earth. By comparing the reflectance spectra of organic matter on Pluto obtained by the spacecraft with our laboratory experimental data, we show the occurrence of a giant impact and subsequent organic synthesis onto this icy dwarf planet in the early stage of its evolution. We also investigate shock-induced alterations of organic matter through hyper-velocity impact experiments, which is necessary for future sample-return missions to icy bodies in the Solar system.

Free Research Field

惑星科学