"Detection of methoxymethanol as a photochemistry product of condensed " by Hope Schneider, Anna Caldwell-Overdier et al.
 

Physics

Detection of methoxymethanol as a photochemistry product of condensed methanol

Document Type

Article

Abstract

We report the identification of methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH) as a photochemistry product of condensed methanol (CH3OH) based on temperature-programmed desorption studies conducted following photon irradiation at energies below the ionization threshold (9.8 eV) of condensed methanol. The first detection of methoxymethanol in the interstellar medium was reported in 2017 based on data from Bands 6 and 7 from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The cosmic synthesis of 'complex' organic molecules such as methyl formate (HCOOCH3), dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3), acetic acid (CH3COOH), ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH), and glycolaldehyde (HOCH2CHO) has been attributed to UV photolysis of condensed methanol found in interstellar ices. Experiments conducted in 1995 demonstrated that electron-induced radiolysis of methanol cosmic ice analogues yields methoxymethanol. In three recent publications (2016, 2017, and 2018), methoxymethanol was considered as a potential tracer for reactions induced by secondary electrons resulting from the interaction of cosmic rays with interstellar ices. However, the results presented in this study suggest that methoxymethanol can be formed from both radiation chemistry and photochemistry of condensed methanol.

Publication Title

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

Publication Date

5-2019

Volume

485

Issue

1

First Page

L19

Last Page

L23

ISSN

1745-3925

DOI

10.1093/mnrasl/slz019

Keywords

astrochemistry, cosmic rays, ISM: molecules, radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

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