NASA Ames COSmIC Simulation Chamber (COSmIC) Archives

Schematic diagram (not to scale) of the experimental apparatus used for benzene ice nucleation and growth studies (adapted from Dubois et al. (2021)). Pressure was measured with a capacitance manometer (P1) and an ion gauge (P2). The inset shows a top view of the cooled sample holder with the positions of the three K-type thermocouple gauges (red dots) used for temperature measurements. The ice sample formed on either or both sides of the silicon substrate/tholin sample (grey), which was in the path of the IR beam of the Thermo Fisher iS50. Infrared transmission spectra were collected with a liquid N2-cooled MCT/A detector. -- [astro-ph.EP]

Experimental Measurements of Benzene Ice Critical Saturation Ratios on Titan Tholins and Impact on the Microphysical Modeling of Titan’s South Polar Benzene Cloud

by Keith CowingJuly 25, 2026July 25, 2026

[astro-ph.EP] The Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) revealed the presence of a benzene (C6H6) ice cloud in Titan’s autumn south polar stratosphere, following the northern spring equinox in August 2009.

Schematic diagram showing all the model pathways leading to the production of both neutrals and cations. Each molecular species indicated here has a node whose size is proportional to the number of times this species is either lost or produced in the overall scheme. The larger the node, the more important that molecule’s contribution to the network. In blue are species participating mainly as a formed product. In gold are species participating mainly as a reactant. Species in crimson are in reactant-product equilibrium. -- astro-ph.IM

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Modeling Low-Temperature Plasmas Simulating Titan’s Atmosphere

by Keith CowingSeptember 11, 2025September 11, 2025

In the study presented here, we model the gas phase chemistry induced by plasma discharge at low temperature (150 K) in the NASA Ames COSmIC Simulation Chamber (COSmIC) using a […]