The effects of ion particle radiation on amino acids in a serpentine matrix

Abstract

On a planet or moon, the absence of a sufficiently strong global magnetic field leads to large radiation exposure. Charged particles reach, for example, the surfaces of Mars, Enceladus and the objects in the asteroid belt. If such particles hit biomolecules, complete decomposition or at least significant chemical structure alterations can occur. This has not only to be considered in the search for extraterrestrial life (e.g., on Mars and Enceladus), but also in the chemical analyses of meteorites because the meteorite parent bodies, the asteroids, are also exposed to this particle radiation. The organic substances formed in the asteroids during the aqueous alteration phase will also be affected to some extent. The degree to which they are affected depends on their distance from the asteroid’s surface.