The chemistry induced by stellar radiation and energetic particles produces haze particles in planetary atmospheres, which happens on many Solar System bodies and are expected in exoplanetary atmospheres. Haze particles play an important role in planetary atmospheres, affecting both physical and chemical processes in the atmospheres and on the surface if the planets are terrestrial. Organic hazes are particularly interesting due to the astrobiological implications, as they may provide a source of organic material to the surface that may impact the origin or evolution of life. However, the chemical processes that lead to haze formation and the resulting gas and solid compositions are still not well-understood. Here, we present the results from our laboratory experiments simulating a range of atmospheres, including Solar System bodies (Titan, Triton, and Pluto) and exoplanets (super-Earth- and mini-Neptune-type planets).  We carried out the experiments by using the Planetary HAZE Research (PHAZER) chamber at Johns Hopkins University with one of two energy sources (AC glow plasma or UV photons) to initiate chemical reactions. All simulated atmospheres resulted in the formation of organic hazeswithgreat diversity in haze production rates. We tracked the gas phase compositional changes with a mass spectrometry during the experiments, which indicates that different chemical pathways are responsible for generating organic haze in different simulated atmospheres. The characterization of the resulting organic haze particles reveals distinct physical and chemical properties (color, size distribution, particle density, and composition) of these hazes. The laboratory results increase our understanding of orgainc haze formation in planetary atmospheres, and can help to guide atmosphere modeling and observations of planets in our Solar System and beyond.<br/>

Organic haze formation in planetary atmospheres: Insight from laboratory simulations

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.