Complex Organic Molecules in Protoplanetary Disks
Abstract
Protoplanetary disks are vital objects in star and planet formation. In addition to aiding mass accretion onto the central star and angular momentum dissipation, they also contain all material which may form an orbiting planetary system. Of great interest to the astrochemistry and astrobiology communities is the origin of prebiotic molecules, considered the "building blocks" of Life. Is it possible for complex molecules to form in protoplanetary disks and survive assimilation into planets and other planetary system objects, such as, comets? We explore the synthesis of large complex organic molecules (COMs) in protoplanetary disks which encompass young stars. We use a chemical network primarily developed for use in hot core models to calculate the abundance and distribution of gas-phase and grain-mantle (ice) COMs and discuss the potential of observing the gas-phase form of these species with new facilities, such as, ALMA.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- June 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AAS...22210901W