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Mark Smith

Honors

• Visiting Fellow, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado, 2002-2003
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship, Department of Physics, Technical University, Chemnitz, 2000
• CNRS Invited Visiting Professor, Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics, University of Rennes, 1997-1999
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship, Department of Physics, University of Freiburg, 1992
• American Society for Mass Spectroscopy Award for Young Academic Mass Spectrometrists, 1988

Education and Appointments

• B.S. 1976, University of Oregon
  
• M.S. 1978, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Ph.D. 1982, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado
  

Research Interests

• Physical
  
• Physical
  
• Astrobiology and Astrochemistry
  
• Astrobiology and Astrochemistry
  
• Chemical Physics
  
• Chemical Physics
  
• Chemical Reaction Dynamics/Kinetics/Interactions
  
• Chemical Reaction Dynamics/Kinetics/Interactions
  
• Instrument Development
  
• Instrument Development
  

Research Summary

One area of our research program is centered about the study of molecular collision dynamics in the gas phase. A large part of the work, both experimental and theoretical, is associated with the development of new radiofrequency ion traps for low temperature kinetic measurement. These techniques now allow the study of gas phase ion-molecule and soon, ion-radical reactions from 300 K down to temperatures below 10 K. The results are providing critical insight into reaction mechanisms and find direct application to the study of chemical evolution in interstellar media and terrestrial and planetary atmospheres. Experimental studies have focused on the chemical reaction mechanisms in anturally low temperature environment such as interstellar molecular clouds and circumstellar shells.

A separate direction for our group has involved the study of the organic chemistry of Saturn's large moon, Titan. Ion and photochemistry in the dense upper atomosphere of this object produces large quantities of organic aerosols, dubbed tholins. These tholins fall to the 100K surface and providing the organic feedstock for subsequent hydrolysis or oxidation chemistry. The development of this chemistry , its potential role in prebiological processes on Titan are of particular interest. The work in our group involves laboratory generation of tholin analogues, extreme ultraviolet photochemistry of Tian's ionosphere, production of organic aerosol haze in its atmosphere and the determination of physical characteristics and chemical reactivity of this complex material. This work is in collaboration with scientists at the UA Planetary Science Department, Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Selected Publications

• D. Gerlich and M.A. Smith, "Laboratory Astrochemistry: Studying Molecules Under Inter- and Circumstellar Conditions", Physica Scripta 73, C32 (2006).
  
• H. Imanaka and M.A. Smith, "The Role of Photoionization in the Formation of Complex Organic Molecules in Titan’s Upper Atmosphere", J. Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L02204, doi:10.1029/2006GL028317 (2007).
  
• A.E. Belikov and M.A. Smith, "Reactions of HBr+ Ions in the 2?i, v+ Quantum States with H2 and HBr Molecules", Russ. J. Phys. Chem. A 82, 789 (2008).
  
• C.D. Neish, J.I. Lunine, A. Somogyi, H. Imanaka, and M.A. Smith, "Rate Measurements of the Hydrolysis of Complex Organic Macromolecules in Cold Aqueous Solutions: Implications for Prebiotic Chemistry on the Early Earth and Titan", Astrobiology 8, 273 (2008).
  
• H. Imanaka and M.A. Smith, "EUV Photochemical Production of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons Initiated by Dissociative Charge Transfer Reaction of CH4", J. Phys. Chem. A, 113, 11187-11194 (2009).
  
• R. Theissen, V. Vuitton, P. Lavvas, J. Lemaire, C. Dehon, O. Dutuit, M.A. Smith, S. Turchini, D. Catone, R. Yelle, P. Pernot, A. Somogyi and M Careno, "Laboratory studies of molecular growth in the Titan ionosphere", J. Phys. Chem. A, 113, 11211-11220 (2009).
  
• C.D. Neish, Á. Somogyi, J. I. Lunine, and M. A. Smith, "Low temperature hydrolysis of laboratory tholins in ammonia-water solutions: Implications for prebiotic chemistry on Titan", Icarus, 201, 412-421 (2009).
  
• C.D. Neish, A. Somogyi, M.A. Smith, "Titan's Primordial Soup: Formation of Amino Acids via Low Temperature Hydrolysis of Tholins". Astrobiology, 10, 337-347 (2010).
  
• H. Imanaka and M.A. Smith. "Formation of nitrogenated organic aerosols by EUV-VUV irradiation of a simulated Titan atmosphere." Proc Natl Acad Sci, 107, 12423-12428 (2010).
  
• M.A. Smith, "Complex Organic Carbon on Abiotic Solar System Bodies: Titan as a model", Geochemical News, 142 (2010).
  
• R.V. Yelle.; V. Vuitton; P. Lavvas; S.J. Klippenstein.; M.A. Smith; S.M. Hoerst; J. Cui. Formation of NH3 and CH2NH in Titan's upper atmosphere, Faraday Discussions, 147 31-49 (2010).