Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Eloi Camprubi-Casas

Second Advisor

Edith Fayolle

Third Advisor

Tian Dong

Abstract

Europa, one of Jupiter's icy moons, is considered a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial habitability due to its subsurface ocean and chemically diverse ice shell. This thesis investigates the photochemical evolution of simple organic molecules within layered saline ice analogs under Europa-relevant conditions using the BOREAS Cryogenic Planetary Simulator. Layered ice samples containing magnesium- and sulfate-rich brines with glycine were exposed to ultraviolet radiation under cryogenic temperatures and high-vacuum conditions. The resulting chemical changes were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to evaluate the effects of ice stratification and salt composition on organic stability. The findings provide new insights into how ice layering influences photochemical processes in planetary environments and contributes to understanding the preservation and evolution of potential biosignatures on Europa and other icy ocean worlds.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Ilankuzhali Elavarasan. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3409015450

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