Open AccessDiagnostics of Nitrogen-methane Atmospheric Glow Discharge Used for a Mimic of Prebiotic Atmosphere
Author(s) -
Věra Mazánková,
L. Töröková,
David Trunec,
František Krčma,
Štefan Matejčík,
Nigel J. Mason
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plasma physics and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2336-2634
pISSN - 2336-2626
DOI - 10.14311/ppt.2017.1.83
Subject(s) - methane , titan (rocket family) , astrobiology , acetylene , chemistry , atmosphere (unit) , hydrogen cyanide , nitrogen , glow discharge , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , hydrogen , atmospheric chemistry , water vapor , analytical chemistry (journal) , ozone , environmental chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , physics , plasma , meteorology , quantum mechanics , engineering
The exploration of planetary atmosphere is being advanced by the exciting results of the Cassin-Huygens mission to Titan. The complex chemistry revealed in such atmospheres leading to the synthesis of bigger molecules is providing new insights into our understanding of how life on Earth developed. This work extends our previous investigation of nitrogen-methane (N 2 -CH 4 ) atmospheric glow discharge for simulation chemical processes in prebiotic atmospheres. In presented experiments 2 % of water vapor were addet to nitrogen-methane gas mixture. Exhaust products of discharge in this gas mixture were in-situ analysed by Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR). The major products identified in spectra were: hydrogen cyanide, acetylene and acetonitrile.