2009/11/11 by F. Dulieu, Dulieu, F., L. Amiaud +13
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Chemical Physics Studies #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure #Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR) #astro-ph.IM #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0911.2082
13 pages including 3 figures
arxiv created 2009/11/11 · openalex publication_date 2009/11/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The synthesis of water is one necessary step in the origin and development of life. It is believed that pristine water is formed and grows on the surface of icy dust grains in dark interstellar clouds. Until now, there has been no experimental evidence whether this scenario is feasible or not. We present here the first experimental evidence of water synthesis under interstellar conditions. After D and O deposition on a water ice substrate (HO) held at 10 K, we observe production of HDO and DO. The water substrate itself has an active role in water formation, which appears to be more complicated than previously thought. Amorphous water ice layers are the matrices where complex organic prebiotic species may be synthesized. This experiment opens up the field of a little explored complex chemistry that could occur on interstellar dust grains, believed to be the site of key processes leading to the molecular diversity and complexity observed in our universe.