Chemical and optical behaviour of tholins, laboratory analogues of Titan aerosols Original Research Article

Since 1997, after having identified for the first time C4N2 (the only molecule detected on Titan and undetected in the laboratory at this date) in a simulated atmosphere of Titan, our group intended to determine several properties (including optical behavior) of laboratory analogues of Titanʹs tholins. This article summarizes the results obtained in the frame of that program (observation by microscopy, solubility in hydrocarbons and nitriles, chemical composition, and optical behavior in the 200–900nm range), and finally investigates the following items: