The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues
International audience A series of laboratory experiments was carried out in order to generate a diagnostic spectrum for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) of astrobiological interest in the context of the Martian South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC), to establish PAH spectral features more easily d...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |
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ftunigrenoble:oai:HAL:hal-03309251v1 2024-06-23T07:56:51+00:00 The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues Campbell, Jacqueline, D Schmitt, B Brissaud, O. Muller, J.-P. Department of Physics and Astronomy University College of London London (UCL) Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) 2021 https://hal.science/hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251/document https://hal.science/hal-03309251/file/Campbell-2021_JGR_Planets-126-2020JE006595_Final.pdf https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006595 en eng HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1029/2020JE006595 hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251/document https://hal.science/hal-03309251/file/Campbell-2021_JGR_Planets-126-2020JE006595_Final.pdf doi:10.1029/2020JE006595 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 2169-9097 EISSN: 2169-9100 Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets https://hal.science/hal-03309251 Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2021, 126 (7), ⟨10.1029/2020JE006595⟩ Mars analogue materials CO2 ice PAH organic molecules spectroscopy Visible Near-infrared Mars south polar cap [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP] info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2021 ftunigrenoble https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006595 2024-06-11T14:33:34Z International audience A series of laboratory experiments was carried out in order to generate a diagnostic spectrum for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) of astrobiological interest in the context of the Martian South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC), to establish PAH spectral features more easily detectable in CO2 ice (mixed with small amounts of H2O ice) than the previously reported absorption feature at 3.29 µm in order to constrain their detectability limit. There is currently no existing literature on PAH detection within SPRC features, making this work novel and impactful given the recent discovery of a possible subglacial lake beneath the Martian South Pole. Although they have been detected in Martian meteorites, PAHs have not been detected yet on Mars, possibly due to the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation on the surface of the planet. SPRC features may provide protection to fragile molecules, and this work seeks to provide laboratory data to improve interpretation of orbital remote sensing spectroscopic imaging data. We also ascertain the effect of CO2 ice sublimation on organic spectra, as well as provide PAH reference spectra in mixtures relevant to Mars. A detectability limit of ~0.04% has been recorded for observing PAHs in CO2 ice using laboratory instrument parameters emulating those of the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), with new spectral slope features revealed between 0.7 and 1.1 µm, and absorption features at 1.14 and, most sensitively, at 1.685 µm. Mars regolith analogue mixed with a concentration of 1.5% PAHs resulted in no discernible organic spectral features. These detectability limits measured in the laboratory are discussed and extrapolated to the effective conditions on the Mars South Polar Cap in terms of dust and water ice abundance and CO2 ice grain size for both the main perennial cap and the H2O ice-dust sublimation lag deposit. Article in Journal/Newspaper South pole Université Grenoble Alpes: HAL South Pole Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 126 7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Université Grenoble Alpes: HAL |
op_collection_id |
ftunigrenoble |
language |
English |
topic |
Mars analogue materials CO2 ice PAH organic molecules spectroscopy Visible Near-infrared Mars south polar cap [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP] |
spellingShingle |
Mars analogue materials CO2 ice PAH organic molecules spectroscopy Visible Near-infrared Mars south polar cap [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP] Campbell, Jacqueline, D Schmitt, B Brissaud, O. Muller, J.-P. The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
topic_facet |
Mars analogue materials CO2 ice PAH organic molecules spectroscopy Visible Near-infrared Mars south polar cap [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP] |
description |
International audience A series of laboratory experiments was carried out in order to generate a diagnostic spectrum for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) of astrobiological interest in the context of the Martian South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC), to establish PAH spectral features more easily detectable in CO2 ice (mixed with small amounts of H2O ice) than the previously reported absorption feature at 3.29 µm in order to constrain their detectability limit. There is currently no existing literature on PAH detection within SPRC features, making this work novel and impactful given the recent discovery of a possible subglacial lake beneath the Martian South Pole. Although they have been detected in Martian meteorites, PAHs have not been detected yet on Mars, possibly due to the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation on the surface of the planet. SPRC features may provide protection to fragile molecules, and this work seeks to provide laboratory data to improve interpretation of orbital remote sensing spectroscopic imaging data. We also ascertain the effect of CO2 ice sublimation on organic spectra, as well as provide PAH reference spectra in mixtures relevant to Mars. A detectability limit of ~0.04% has been recorded for observing PAHs in CO2 ice using laboratory instrument parameters emulating those of the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), with new spectral slope features revealed between 0.7 and 1.1 µm, and absorption features at 1.14 and, most sensitively, at 1.685 µm. Mars regolith analogue mixed with a concentration of 1.5% PAHs resulted in no discernible organic spectral features. These detectability limits measured in the laboratory are discussed and extrapolated to the effective conditions on the Mars South Polar Cap in terms of dust and water ice abundance and CO2 ice grain size for both the main perennial cap and the H2O ice-dust sublimation lag deposit. |
author2 |
Department of Physics and Astronomy University College of London London (UCL) Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Campbell, Jacqueline, D Schmitt, B Brissaud, O. Muller, J.-P. |
author_facet |
Campbell, Jacqueline, D Schmitt, B Brissaud, O. Muller, J.-P. |
author_sort |
Campbell, Jacqueline, D |
title |
The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
title_short |
The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
title_full |
The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
title_fullStr |
The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Detectability Limit of Organic Molecules within Mars South Polar Laboratory Analogues |
title_sort |
detectability limit of organic molecules within mars south polar laboratory analogues |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://hal.science/hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251/document https://hal.science/hal-03309251/file/Campbell-2021_JGR_Planets-126-2020JE006595_Final.pdf https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006595 |
geographic |
South Pole |
geographic_facet |
South Pole |
genre |
South pole |
genre_facet |
South pole |
op_source |
ISSN: 2169-9097 EISSN: 2169-9100 Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets https://hal.science/hal-03309251 Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2021, 126 (7), ⟨10.1029/2020JE006595⟩ |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1029/2020JE006595 hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251 https://hal.science/hal-03309251/document https://hal.science/hal-03309251/file/Campbell-2021_JGR_Planets-126-2020JE006595_Final.pdf doi:10.1029/2020JE006595 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006595 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |
container_volume |
126 |
container_issue |
7 |
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1802650215580172288 |