Formation of hydroxylamine on dust grains via ammonia oxidation

The quest to detect prebiotic molecules in space, notably amino acids, requires an understanding of the chemistry involving nitrogen atoms. Hydroxylamine (NH₂OH) is considered a precursor to the amino acid glycine. Although not yet detected, NH₂OH is considered a likely target of detection with ALMA. We report on an experimental investigation of the formation of hydroxylamine on an amorphous silicate surface via the oxidation of ammonia. The experimental data are then fed into a simulation of the formation of NH₂OH in dense cloud conditions. On ices at 14 K and with a modest activation energy barrier, NH₂OH is found to be formed with an abundance that never falls below a factor 10 with respect to NH₃. Suggestions of conditions for future observations are provided.