Detection of Cyclopropenylidene on Titan
(2020)
Authors:
Conor Nixon, Alexander Thelen, Martin Cordiner, Zbigniew Kisiel, Steven Charnley, Edward Molter, Joseph Serigano, Patrick Irwin, Nicholas Teanby, Yi-Jehng Kuan
Abstract:
<p>Titan, Saturn&#8217;s largest moon, has long been known to harbor a thick atmosphere [1] that evolves a complex array of organic molecules through atmospheric photochemistry [2, 3]. Especially from the 1970s onwards, successive waves of investigation with ground-based telescopes, spacecraft including Voyager 1 and Cassini-Huygens, and space telescopes have revealed the molecular inventory of its atmosphere through remote sensing at UV to radio wavelengths, and in situ mass spectroscopy [4, 5]. Since coming online in 2012, the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) telescope has added importantly to our knowledge of Titan&#8217;s atmospheric composition, especially through first detections of propionitrile (ethyl cyanide, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>CN) and acrylonitrile (vinyl cyanide, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>3</sub>CN) in the neutral atmosphere [6, 7]. Such new measurements are of vital importance for constraining photochemical models [8-10] and helping us unravel the steps to building even larger molecules and haze particles [11], with important repercussions for astrobiology [12].</p>
<p>In recent years we have continued the search for new molecules in Titan&#8217;s atmosphere, acquiring high-sensitivity observations with ALMA to search for larger hydrocarbons, nitriles and other species. In 2016 we acquired 129 mins of integration on Titan in ALMA Band 6 that exhibited many lines of C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>CN (ethyl cyanide) and other known species. In addition we found several weak lines that we identified as c-C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>2</sub> (cyclopropenylidene), a small cyclic molecule frequently seen in the interstellar medium [13, 14], but not previously seen in a planetary atmosphere. The spectrum was modeled using the NEMESIS radiative transfer and inversion computer model [15] yielding a best-fit mixing column abundance of 5.29x10<sup>12</sup> molecule cm<sup>-2</sup>, somewhat greater than predicted by recent photochemical models (1.41x10<sup>12</sup> [8]; 7.71x10<sup>11</sup> [16]).</p>
<p>Cyclopropenylidene is now only the second cyclic molecule to be detected in a planetary atmosphere after benzene. Its measurement will provide vital constraints on the chemistry of important intermediate-size radicals such as C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub> (propargyl and its isomers) whose chemistry may lead to either c-C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>2</sub> (by hydrogen loss) or to benzene (e.g. by self-reaction). Ultimately, a better understanding of cyclic molecule chemistry will lead to a better understanding of haze formation, and Titan&#8217;s potential for astrobiology.<strong>&#160;</strong></p>
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