Photochemical Formation of Methyl Cation in Protoplanetary Disk.

Researchers have discovered the formation of the methyl cation, a key molecule in astrochemistry, through photochemistry in a protoplanetary disk. The discovery was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the IRAM 30-meter telescope. The findings shed light on the chemical processes that occur in molecular clouds and protoplanetary disks, which are crucial for the formation of planets and other celestial bodies.