Nitrogen Oxide Production in Laser-Induced Breakdown Simulating Impacts on the Hadean Atmosphere

0555463 - ÚFCH JH 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Heays, Alan - Kaiserová, Tereza - Rimmer, P. B. - Knížek, Antonín - Petera, Lukáš - Civiš, Svatopluk - Juha, L. - Dudžák, R. - Krůs, M. - Scherf, M. - Lammer, H. - Pascal, R. - Ferus, Martin
Nitrogen Oxide Production in Laser-Induced Breakdown Simulating Impacts on the Hadean Atmosphere.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Roč. 127, č. 3 (2022), č. článku e2021JE006842. ISSN 2169-9097. E-ISSN 2169-9100
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA21-11366S; GA MŠMT EF16_019/0000778
Institutional support: RVO:61388955
Keywords : nitrogen oxide * laser * high-energy-density synthesis
OECD category: Physical chemistry
Impact factor: 4.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access with time embargo

The high-energy-density synthesis of NxOy species is simulated in gas mixtures representing an O2-free early-Earth atmosphere by terawatt-kilojoule-class laser-induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB). These experiments differ from previous LIDB experiments due to the 100 times greater energy delivered per pulse and sensitive analysis of products by high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. The measured yields of NO, N2O, and NO2 are 0.08–8 × 1015, 5 × 1012, and 0.03–7 × 1014 molec J −1. The high N2O yield is above the upper-limit constraint of previous tabletop LIDB experiments and the expected yield of a thermochemical freeze-out at any temperature between 2000 and 5000 K, while the NO and NO2 yields are in broad agreement with freeze-out models. Using a one dimensional chemical model of the Hadean atmosphere and a simple model of late bombardment, we compute the source flux of N2O assuming the same high production yield as measured experimentally and find the steady-state partial pressure of N2O is insufficient to warm the climate.

Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0329977