For the ambitious quest to delve into the role of chemical processes within ice mixtures that potentially facilitated the emergence of life on Earth, Eckhardt received a substantial grant of approximately 1.5 million euros from the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) as part of the Emmy Noether program.
"The James Webb Space Telescope enables us to scrutinise the chemistry of ice residing on tiny cosmic dust particles, opening windows to a deeper comprehension of chemical evolution," states Eckhardt. "Our objective is to simulate space conditions in the lab, unravelling the chemical dynamics underlying the formation of novel interstellar molecules."
Starting in early 2024, with a duration of six years, the project entitled "Reactivity and Spectroscopic Characterization of Interstellar Relevant Imin Species" aims to replicate harsh cosmic conditions within laboratory settings. Eckhardt's team plans to fabricate interstellar ice mixtures under extreme conditions of cryogenic temperatures and high vacuum. Irradiating these mixtures with electrons mimics the high-energy galactic cosmic rays prevalent in outer space.
An innovative aspect of this experiment involves the direct detection of highly reactive species that emerge immediately after bond breakage within the ice. Typically, these exceptionally reactive molecules swiftly engage in further reactions, making their direct identification challenging. "Our experiment seeks to directly identify these heretofore unknown reactive intermediates within the ice, allowing us to make inferences about novel astrochemical reaction mechanisms," explained Eckhardt.
As part of the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Eckhardt investigates the formation, cryosolvation and spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates in interstellar ice analogs. The funded research project predominantly focuses on reactive nitrogen compounds, which could serve as precursors to amino acids, which are essential for life on Earth today. The methodologies employed encompass organic synthesis, utilizing various spectroscopic techniques alongside quantum mechanical computations. The research project perfectly matches with the research areas of RESOLV, which also focus on cryochemistry and solvation under extreme conditions.