Web Release Date: May 28,
Silicon Oxide Nanoparticles Reveal the Origin of Silicate Grains in Circumstellar Environments
and
Department of Physics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284, Departments of Chemistry and Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, and Solar System Exploration Division, Astrochemistry Laboratory, NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
Received March 10, 2006
Revised May 14, 2006
Abstract:
A synergistic effort combining experiments in beams and first principles theoretical investigations is used to propose mechanisms that could lead to the formation of silicates and nanoparticles with silicon-rich cores through agglomeration of SiO, an abundant oxygen-bearing species in space. The silicon oxygen species involved in the transformation have optical excitations that could contribute to extended red emissions and blue luminescence. Apart from resolving an outstanding astronomical problem, we demonstrate novel silicon architectures.
Download the full text: PDF | HTML
