The Irradiation of Methyl Cyanide (CH3CN) Ice at 15 K with 200 keV

Methyl cyanide (CH₃CN) is the simplest of the organic nitriles found in space. It was first identified in the molecular clouds, Sagittarius Sgr A and Sgr B in 1971, through its emission lines in the vicinity of 2.7 mm from the J = 6 ® 5 transition. In 1974 it was also reported in comet Kohoutek. CH₃CN, has since been detected in the Hale Bopp comet and, as of 2009, there are no less than 58 hot molecular core objects in which CH₃CN had been found. Methyl cyanide has also been discovered beyond the Milky Way galaxy, in the NGC 253 galax, which lies in the local group of galaxies, some 10 million light-years from Earth^[1]. It has also been detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) where it is thought to be made on the grain mantles.

Upon irradiation of the Irradiation of methyl cyanide (CH₃CN) ice at 15 K with 200 keV Protons, we observed several compounds. Although this experiment was conducted under different conditions than comparable ones carried out by other researchers (eg Hudson and Moore 2004; Hudson, Moore et al. 2008), similar results were obtained. The objectives were to determine which molecules would form upon irradiation of CH₃CN ice. The astrophysical ice of CH₃CN is present in the ISM, comets, solar bodies (eg Titan) and other galaxies. These places receive radiation fluxes from levels of only a few eV to in excess of MeV cm^-2 s^-1, the result being that complex molecules are formed - eg HCN/CN^-, HCCCN, H₂C=C=NH and CH₄. This experiment was carried out using 200 keV protons, and so replicated a particular radiation level similar to that present in space. It was discovered that, upon the irradiation of CH₃CN under laboratory conditions, the same molecules as Hudson et al 2004 were formed. These molecules may then play an important role in the wider astrobiological context. For instance, HCN is vital in the formation of nitrogenous compound.

 

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