Delivery of complex organic molecules to the system of Jupiter

TL;DR

This study models the transport and formation of complex organic molecules in the early solar system, showing that thermal processing at certain distances from the Sun could deliver these molecules to Jupiter and its moons.

Contribution

It introduces a two-dimensional disk evolution model combined with experimental data to estimate organic molecule formation and transport to Jupiter's system.

Findings

Approximately 45% of particles at 80 K can form complex organics.

Particles released at 20 K rarely reach Jupiter's region.

Thermal processing enables organic molecule delivery within 300 kyr.

Abstract

Complex organic molecules are key markers of molecular diversity, and their formation conditions in protoplanetary disks remain an active area of research. These molecules have been detected on a variety of celestial bodies, including icy moons, and may play a crucial role in shaping the current composition of the Galilean moons. Experimental studies suggest that their formation could result from UV irradiation or thermal processing of NH3:CO2 ices. In this context, we investigate the formation of complex organic molecules in the protosolar nebula and their subsequent transport to the Jupiter system region. Lagrangian transport and irradiation simulations of 500 individual particles are performed using a two-dimensional disk evolution model. Based on experiments with UV irradiation and thermal processing of CO2:NH3 ice, this model allows us to estimate the estimate the potential for the formation of complex organic molecules through these processes. Almost none of the particles released at a local temperature of 20 K (corresponding to ~12 AU from the Sun) reach the location of the system of Jupiter. However, when released at a local temperature of 80 K (~7 AU), approximately 45% of the centimetric particles and 30% of the micrometric particles can form complex organic molecules via thermal processing, subsequently reaching the location of the system of Jupiter within 300 kyr. Assuming that the Galilean moons formed in a cold circumplanetary disk around Jupiter, the nitrogen-bearing species potentially present in their interiors could have originated from the formation of complex organic molecules in the protosolar nebula.