The University of Central Florida (UCF), established during the Space Race to advance innovation and exploration, is observing UCF Space Week from November 3-7. The event highlights ongoing research efforts in space science, including work by Professor of Physics Viatcheslav Kokoouline.
Kokoouline and his colleagues are investigating dissociative recombination (DR) involving H3+ ions and their isotopic variant, D2H+, a process that occurs throughout space in environments such as planetary atmospheres and regions where planets form. This research aims to improve understanding of the universe’s chemical composition and conditions related to water presence and life’s formation.
In an interview, Kokoouline discussed his motivation for studying DR processes. “I’m interested in the fundamental, microscopic processes that occur in molecular plasma and how molecules behave under varying temperatures. In space, many processes, including DR, occur in plasma and are affected by their surrounding environment,” he said.
He explained the importance of DR in astrophysics: “DR is particularly important in astrophysics because it helps explain the chemical composition of interstellar clouds, planetary atmospheres, and the processes that may lead to the formation of water and organic molecules. Beyond space science, DR also has applications in the semiconductor industry, where understanding how ions and molecules recombine can improve the design and efficiency of electronic devices.”
Kokoouline noted that advances in this area could impact both scientific understanding and technology development: “Because of its relevance to both science and applied technology, DR is a high-demand area for developing new methods to study and accurately measure molecular reactions.”
Regarding the objectives of his team’s recent study published in Nature Communications, he stated: “The goal of this study is to better understand how DR helps scientists model astrophysical environments, such as the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as technological plasmas found in fusion reactors, plasma-assisted engines and the semiconductor industry.”
He described their methodology: “Our study examined how H3+ and D2H+ ions interact with electrons under extremely cold conditions through the DR process using a cryogenic storage ring — a type of particle accelerator that holds ions in an ultra-cold, nearly air-free environment so their behavior can be observed. This process impacts how molecules form, their abundance, how plasmas behave, and the chemical reactions that influence energy transfer, gas release, and the formation of radical species — highly reactive atoms or molecules that help shape the chemistry of their surroundings.”
Explaining dissociative recombination itself, Kokoouline said: “Dissociative recombination is a chemical reaction in which a molecular ion collides with a free electron and breaks apart into neutral particles. This process takes place in a variety of environments — from interstellar clouds and planetary atmospheres to laboratory plasma experiments.” He added: “It’s important because it controls the abundance of key ions, influences chemical reactions and affects energy transfer in these systems. Understanding DR is critical for modeling the chemistry of space and planetary atmospheres, and for improving plasma processes in fusion reactors, plasma-assisted combustion, and the semiconductor industry.”
On significant findings from his team’s research: “Our results show that D2H+ ions have a lower DR rate, meaning they tend to survive longer in interstellar environments. This discovery may have significance for deuterium fractionation — a process that helps scientists understand how stars and planets begin to form.” He further elaborated on its implications for star formation studies: “In regions where stars form, deuterium-containing molecules act as chemical clocks, revealing the physical conditions and evolutionary stages of cold molecular clouds that collapse to form stars and planets. A higher abundance of molecules like D₂H⁺ or HDO (a heavier version of water) signals the early stages of star formation. Tracking these changes gives scientists valuable clues about how water, and potentially the conditions for life first emerged in the universe.”
Reflecting on his personal motivations for this line of inquiry he said: “When I started working in science my decision to pursue this field was influenced by one of the professors I worked with whose expertise was in atomic and molecular physics. Over time I became fascinated by molecular collisions; not just because they are intellectually interesting but also because they have many real-world applications. That combination of curiosity and practical impact is what keeps me engaged in this researchand drives me to answer important questions aboutthe origins oft he universeand life.”
