Lab visit to the NASA
Joanna Zapała spent three months in NASA. This visit was funded under the „Lab visit under CREATE project“ competition. During the visit, Joanna Zapała conducted research in the astrochemical laboratory headed by Professor Murthy Gudipati at the Jet Propulsion Lab.
In our solar system, sulfur is volcanically produced on Io, and sulfur ions are accelerated and bombarded in Europe (Jupiter's moon), wherein the reaction with the ice-water surface generates more complex chemical compounds. Understanding radiation-induced sulfur chemical processes are therefore crucial for NASA's mission to Europe.
Joanna Zapała studied the reactions occurring in H2S suspended in water matrices after its excitation with an electron beam or hydrogen lamp (simulating solar wind or cosmic rays). The tests were carried out at temperatures of 4 and 100 K to simulate processes occurring in interstellar space and in the ices of Europe. In order to collect data on products, Joanna used a whole range of techniques and instruments available in the laboratory which she adapted to the needs of experiments; ranging from infrared, UV, and mass spectrometry to laser ablation.
Visitor
Joanna Zapała
Dates
Jul.1 – Oct. 22, 2019
Location
Jet Propulsion Lab, NASA, Pasadena, USA