Dear all,
we are looking for a motivated chemistry or physical chemistry student to
join our group for a PhD in astrochemistry. Please find below the
description of the position and topic.
Best regards.
Patrice Theulé
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Patrice Theulé
Maître de Conférence
Université de Provence, Marseille France
Laboratoire de Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires
Centre Saint-Jérôme case 252
tél: + 33 4 91 28 85 82
fax: + 33 4 91 28 91 94
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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Research:
We want to study the chemical reactivity of interstellar grains analogs in
laboratory. Starting from the primitive molecules (H2O, CO2, CO, NH3, H2CO,
CH3OH, …) forming the grain icy mantles, we simulate the chemical evolution
of the interstellar matter from molecular clouds to solar system bodies, in
particular comets. The goal is to understand how complex molecules are
forming within interstellar conditions and how they are incorporated within
solar system small bodies. In particular we will be interested in the
formation of prebiotic molecules such as amino acids, nitrogenous bases,
sugars and fat acids. We have an experimental set-up enabling to process
interstellar ice analogs to different processes (thermal, VUV irradiation,…)
and to follow their chemical evolution by infrared spectroscopy and mass
spectrometry. We then compare laboratory infrared spectra to space
telescopes spectra (ISO, Spitzer, Herschel) to identify these molecules in
interstellar ices. We also analyze the refractory organic residue obtained
after VUV irradiation of ice analogs. The complex mixture is extracted from
a HUV chamber using a non destructive oxygen-free way and analyzed with a
high resolution mass spectrometer (Orbitrap). These analyses are performed
in collaboration with Roland Thissen from the Grenoble Planetology
Laboratory (LPG).
Keywords: interstellar ices, reactivity, infrared spectrometry, mass
spectrometry, exobiology
References:
- Methylammonium methylcarbamate thermal formation in interstellar ice
analogs: a glycine salt precursor in protostellar environments, J. B.
Bossa, F. Duvernay, P. Theule, F. Borget, L. D’hendecourt, T. Chiavassa,
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 506(2), 2009, 601, 2009
NH2CH2OH Thermal Formation in Interstellar Ices Contribution to the 5-8 μm
Region Toward Embedded Protostars, J. B. Bossa, P. Theule , F. Duvernay, T.
Chiavassa, Astrophysical Journal, 707 (2), 1524, 2009
-Entre les étoiles, la chimie des origines ? L. d’Hendecourt, T. Chiavassa,
Dossier pour la Science, juillet-septembre 95 , 2008
- La chimie des glaces interstellaires: à la recherche des molécules du
vivant ?. T. Chiavassa, F. Borget, J.-P. Aycard, E. Dartois and L.
d’Hendecourt, L’Actualité Chimique 283, 12 2005
Candidate:
Chemistry or physical chemistry MD
Skills in infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
European Union countries national only
Contact:
Prof. Thierry Chiavassa
Email: [log in to unmask]
Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires
UMR CNRS 6633
Centre Saint Jérôme
Avenue Escadrille Normandie-Niémen
13397 Marseille, France
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