Experimental simulation of aerosols evolution in Titan’s ionosphere

Audrey Chatain (1, 2) , Nathalie Carrasco (1) , Olivier Guaitella (2)

1 PLANETO - LATMOS
2 LPP - Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas

Many recent studies on Titan are concerned with aerosols. In particular, questions are asked on how these complex organic molecules are formed and evolve in Titan’s atmosphere. Here for the first time we experimentally study how harsh plasma environment simulating Titan ionosphere can affect these aerosols. Titan tholins are placed in a N2-H2 plasma reactor and sample signatures are measured by infrared transmission spectroscopy. First results show an evolution of the absorption bands. Therefore, plasma conditions seem to change tholin chemical structure.

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

Audrey Chatain, Nathalie Carrasco, Olivier Guaitella. Experimental simulation of aerosols evolution in Titan’s ionosphere. European Planetary Science Congress 2017, Sep 2017, Riga, Latvia. pp.EPSC2017-594. ⟨insu-01653478⟩