![Proposed scenario to explain the hydrocarbon-rich spectrum of HOPS-68. Gas-phase carbon-bearing species enrich the gas between the soot line (∼ 500 K) and the graphite sublimation rim (∼ 1200 K), which we refer to as the "refractory carbon destruction zone", and are then entrained and transported out of the disk by the disk wind. In the outflow cavity, C2H2 reacts with UV-photons, with C2H as reaction product. C2H can react with C2H2 to form carbon-chain species such as C4H2 and C6H2. The location of the isotherms were estimated using the results from paper A.-- [astro-ph.SR]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Up-in-smoke.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
[astro-ph.SR] Earth’s surface and deep mantle are strongly depleted in carbon compared to the Sun. Sublimation of solid carbonaceous material in the inner midplanes of young disks could cause this […]
HOPS-68
![Full JWST spectrum of HOPS-68. We indicate the molecular absorption bands of oxygen-bearing molecules as studied in this work (SiO, H2O, CO2 and CO) and of carbon-bearing molecules as studied in paper B, as well as the most notable ice and silicate absorption features. Not indicated are 13CCH2, CS, and CH4 in the 7.3-7.8 µm region, and CH3, C4H2 and C6H2 around ∼ 16 µm, which will all be studied in paper B. Some prominent H2 emission lines are highlighted with a black arrow. HOPS-68 is not detected in continuum at wavelengths lower than 2.2 µm. The inset shows a zoom-in to the 7.8-8.6 µm region, which highlights the detection of SiO. -- [astro-ph.SR]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/A-breath.png?resize=1200%2C558&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry
A Breath Of Fresh Air: Oxygen Enhancement From Silicate Sublimation During Early Protostellar Evolution
[astro-ph.SR] Recently, an analog to the t = 0 moment of our Solar System’s meteoritic record was identified for the first time around the Class I protostar HOPS-315.