Theoretical and Observational Status of Biomolecules in Interstellar Medium
Abstract
First estimate of the abundances of biomolecules in interstellar medium was presented by Chakrabarti and Chakrabarti in 2000 (CC00). Through extensive numerical simulations they computed how, starting from simple atoms, slowly more and more complex molecules could be formed in about a million years time as a star is born through the cloud collapse. Since most of the pathways and rates were not known, those were assumed from similar reactions. For hydrogen molecules only effective grain chemistry rate was assumed and the rests were computed using the gas phase chemistry. It was found that assuming normal two body rates or even much lower rates, a significant amount of amino acids could be produced and they could return to earth through bombardments of meteorites in the early phase. Later, many new and more economical pathways were suggested and reaction rates were computed. The estimated rated were also revised. However more recent observations indicate that somehow the pathways used by CC00 may still be valid. For instance, H2C2N2 was the result of HCN+HCN in CC00. This has been observed though theoretically this possibility was less likely. In this paper, we discuss the current status of the observational evidence of prebiotic molecules in star forming region.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E1925C