Science. 1993 Oct 29;262(5134):721-5. doi: 10.1126/science.262.5134.721.
Seventeen stratospherically collected particles-eight of which are classified as interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), seven of which are classified as probable terrestrial contaminants, and two of which have uncertain origins-were studied with a microprobe two-step laser mass spectrometer. Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and their alkylated derivatives were identified in two of the eight IDPs. The PAHs observed include a high-mass envelope not found in meteorites or terrestrial contaminants and prominent odd-mass peaks suggestive of nitrogen-containing functional groups attached to aromatic chromophores. In addition, the complexity of the IDP mass spectra has no precedence in previous studies of meteorite samples or their acid residues. Extensive checks were performed to demonstrate that the PAH signals are not caused by terrestrial contaminants.
十七个在平流层收集的颗粒-其中八个被归类为星际尘埃颗粒（IDP），七个被归类为可能的地球污染物，两个来源不确定-用微探针两步激光质谱仪进行了研究。在这八个 IDP 中的两个中，鉴定出了许多多环芳烃（PAH）及其烷基衍生物。观察到的 PAH 包括在陨石或地球污染物中未发现的高质量包络，以及突出的奇数质量峰，表明附着在芳香发色团上的含氮官能团。此外，IDP 质谱的复杂性在以前对陨石样品或其酸残留物的研究中没有先例。进行了广泛的检查以证明 PAH 信号不是由地球污染物引起的。
