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Solar System Exploration Division
Operational

Cosmic Ice Laboratory

Our research group specializes in studying the spectra, the chemistry, and the physical properties of ices relevant to comets, icy satellites and planets, and the coatings of dust grains in the interstellar medium.

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Our research group specializes in studying the spectra, the chemistry, and the physical properties of ices relevant to comets, icy satellites and planets, and the coatings of dust grains in the interstellar medium. Although many cosmic ices are dominated by H2O, they also contain "prebiotic" molecules such as CO, CO2, CH4, NH3, and CH3OH. In studying these molecules we are probing the early, ancient chemistry which eventually led to the origin of life.

Related Publications

2025. "Infrared Band Strengths and Optical Constants of D2O Ices, with New Measurements on H2O Ices and a Band-Strength Estimate for HDO.", ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 9 (10): 2455-2465 [10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00196] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Carbon Dioxide Ices—A Sexagennial Update of Infrared Intensities, Band Shapes, and the Formation and Destruction of Crystalline CO 2.", The Astrophysical Journal, 995 (1): 89 [10.3847/1538-4357/ae1125] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Crystallization and Isotopic Exchange in Water+Ethylene Glycol Ices.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 542 (1): staf1199 [10.1093/mnras/staf1199] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Infrared spectra of benzene ices: Reexamination and comparison of two recent papers and the literature.", Icarus, 384 115091 [10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115091] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Establishing an Accurate Infrared Band Strength for the Cyanate Ion in Interstellar Ices.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 537 (3): 2918-2924 [10.1093/mnras/staf192] [Journal Article/Letter]