About me

                           Dr. Christian Potiszil 

                           Pheasant Memorial Laboratory 
                           Institute for Planetary Materials
                           Okayama University
                           Yamada 827
                           Misasa
                           Tottori
                           682-0193

                           Japan

                           Email:

                           cpotiszil@okayama-u.ac.jp

I am an astrobiologist and planetary scientist working at Okayama University, Japan, who studies the origin and evolution of the solar system and the building blocks of life. In order to achieve this I study organic matter in meteorites and asteroid return samples to reveal the processes reponsible. So far my work has concentrated on two main types of analysis:

Vibrational spectroscopy - I use this technique to understand the types of functional groups (Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy ) found with organic matter and also to reveal information about its structure (Raman spectroscopy). Additionally, I make maps using these techniques to reveal the spatial relationships between organic matter and mineral components.   

Mass spectrometry - I use the technique to determine what types of organic molecules are present in meteorite or asteroid samples and also to quantify how much of them are present. I am also one of the very few astrobiologists/planetary scientists using a technique called desorption electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). This techniques allows for the collection of ion intensity maps for a sample surface and is complementary with the spectroscopic techniques introduced above.

Using the above techniques I have been able to determine and quantify a number of organic molecles (e.g. amino acids and nitrogen heterocyles) in meteorites and asteroids that are essential for the origin of life on Earth. I have also been able to highlight several important relationships between organic matter and minerals in meteorites and atseroid samples, which enables us to get a better picture of how organic matter (including the building blocks of life) may have been formed and then preserved or destroyed in the these samples. Overall, my work helps us all to better undertsand the processes that were present at the origin of our solar system and those which have affected it ever since.