Chemical evolution on Titan induced by dissolution of organic aerosols in liquid methane

Abstract

The interactions between organic aerosols and liquid methane on the surface of Titan have not been investigated thus far. Here, we report our experimental results of interactions between Titan’s organic aerosol analogs, called Titan tholin, and liquid methane at low temperatures comparable to Titan’s surface temperature. We find that Titan tholin partly dissolves in liquid methane in a short time (several hours) even at low temperatures (90-100K), forming large aggregates of residual Titan tholin particles and evaporitic deposits of dissolved species. Our results suggest that Titan’s organic aerosols would be altered by liquid methane through Dry-Wet cycle such as a short-time rainfall and subsequent evaporation.