Titan Atmospheric Chemistry Revealed by Low-Temperature N₂–CH₄ Plasma Discharge Experiments

Chemistry in Titan’s N2–CH4 atmosphere produces complex organic aerosols. The chemical processes and the resulting compounds are still far from understood, although extensive observations, laboratory, theoretical simulations have greatly improved physical constraints on atmosphere. Here, we conduct a series of Titan simulation experiments with gas mixtures investigate effect initial CH4 ratio, pressure, flow rate production rates composition solid products at relevant temperature (100 K) for first time. We find that increases increasing ratio. nitrogen-containing species much higher yield than hydrocarbons products, N/C ratio appears to be highest compared previous plasma same greater degree nitrogen incorporation low suggests may play an important role cold also H2 is dominant product serves as indicator new molecules experiment, CH2NH contribute both carbon into particles. pressure affect amount time mixture exposed energy source therefore impact chemistry initiated by discharge, emphasizing influence flux atmospheric chemistry.