Thomas Gautier
+33 1 80285234
CNRS Associate researcher
Planetary Science Department
Dr. Gautier is a planetary scientist and astrobiologist working on the formation and evolution of organic matter in the solar system, either through laboratory experiments or through direct investigation using mass spectrometric measurements from space probes.
He obtained his PhD in 2013 on the Laboratory synthesis and study of both chemical and physical properties of Titan's aerosol analogs. He then worked on the COSAC instrument aboard the Rosetta/Philae mission to study organic molecules on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov – Gerasimenko to better constrain the origin and evolution of the organic matter in the Solar System. He later worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to study the formation and properties of organic aerosol in the atmospheres of Titan and the Early Earth and their impact on planetary atmospheres using laboratory experiment. Thomas Gautier also worked on the organic matter within interstellar ice analogs during his postdoctoral fellowship from CNES, the French Space Agency, in laboratory Physics of the Molecular and Ionic Interactions in Marseille.
Current projects include:
Positions
Since October 2017 CNRS associate researcher at LATMOS laboratory, Guyancourt, France
2017 CNES Postdoctoral Fellow at PIIM laboratory, Marseille, France
2016 USRA Visiting Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
2014-2016 NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
2013-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow at Max Planck Institute For Solar System Exploration, Göttingen, Germany
2010-2013 Ph.D. Student and Teaching Assistant at Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Guyancourt, France
2010-2013 Ph.D. Student at Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany
Achievements and Awards
2020 ANR young PI research grant (PI)
2020 Co-I of the MIRS instrument aboard the MMX mission
2016 Young Postdoctoral Scientist Award of the French Astrobiological Society
2016 CNES Postdoctoral Fellowship
2016 NASA Cassini Data Analysis Program Research Grant (Science PI)
2015 NASA Habitable Worlds Program Research Grant (co-I)
2014 NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship
2011 Long-term DAAD research grand for international Ph.D. studies
2009 ERASMUS, European Student Exchange Program Grant
Education
2013 Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics - UVSQ (France) - Laboratory synthesis of Titan's aerosols analogues.
2013 Ph.D. in Plasma Physics - Ruhr Universität Bochum (Germany).
2010 M.S. in Planetary Science - Parcours Planétologie d'Ile de France
2008 B.S. in Physics and Chemistry applied to environmental sciences - Université de Versailles St-Quentin (UVSQ)
Professional and Community Service
Database manager for the Spectroscopy of Planetary Aerosols Analgoues (SPAN) database.
Board member for the Astrophysics Graduate School Paris Saclay
Numerous public outreach events (AstroBar, Science Festival, Public Conferences)
Local Organizing Committee and Science Organizing Committee for several national and european astrobiology conferences since 2013.
Reviewer for Nature Communications, ApJL, Icarus, Planetary and Space Science and Plasma Processes and Polymers
Panel for several NASA grant programs as external reviewer, panelist and panel chair
Teaching Atmospheric Chemistry and Observational Astronomy to the Paris Planetary Science Master
Selected Publications
For a detailed up to date list of publication please check: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9794-5056
Phobos photometric properties from Mars Express HRSC observations
Fornasier S., Wargnier A., Hasselmann P., Tirsch D., Matz K.-D., Doressoundiram A., Gautier T., Barucci M.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2024, 686, pp.A203. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202449220⟩- insu-04520742
Optical constants of exoplanet haze analogs from 0.3 to 30 µm: Comparative sensitivity between spectrophotometry and ellipsometry
Drant T., Garcia-Caurel E., Perrin Z., Sciamma-O’brien E., Carrasco N., Vettier L., Gautier T., Brubach J.-B., Roy P., Kitzmann D., Heng K.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2024, 682, pp.A6. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202346820⟩- insu-04428483
Grain size effects on the infrared spectrum of mineral mixtures with dark components: New laboratory experiments to interpret low-albedo rocky planetary surfaces
Poggiali G., Fossi L., Wargnier A., Beccarelli J., Brucato J. R., Barucci M. A., Beck P., Matsuoka M., Nakamura T., Merlin F., Fornasier S., et al.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2024, 685, pp.A14. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202347681⟩- hal-04564851
Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants I. Detectability of hydrated minerals and organic bands
Wargnier A., Gautier T., Doressoundiram A., Poggiali G., Beck P., Poch O., Quirico E., Nakamura T., Miyamoto H., Kameda S., Hasselmann P., et al.
Icarus, 2024, 421, pp.116216. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116216⟩- hal-04671992
Reanalysis of the Huygens GCMS dataset. I. High-resolution methane vertical profile in the atmosphere of Titan
Gautier T., Serigano J., Das K., Coutelier M., Hörst S., Szopa C., Vinatier S., Trainer M. G.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2024, 690, pp.A165. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202244583⟩- insu-04691184
Development of a new Phobos spectral simulant: spectral properties from visible to the mid-infrared range
Wargnier A., Poggiali G., Doressoundiram A., Gautier T., Beck P., Buch A., Ruscassier N., Fornasier S., Barucci M.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2023, 524 (3), pp.3809-3820. ⟨10.1093/mnras/stad2132⟩- hal-04191010
Humid Evolution of Haze in the Atmosphere of Super-Earths in the Habitable Zone
Maillard J., Carrasco N., Rüger C., Chatain A., Schmitz-Afonso I., Weisbrod C., Bailly L., Petit E., Gautier T., Mckenna A., Afonso C.
Astrobiology, 2023, 23 (6), pp.723-732. ⟨10.1089/ast.2022.0021⟩- insu-04116316
Organic detection in the near-infrared spectral Phobos regolith laboratory analogue in preparation for the Martian Moon eXploration mission
Wargnier A., Gautier T., Poch O., Beck P., Quirico E., Buch A., Drant T., Perrin Z., Doressoundiram A.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2023, 669 (January), A146 (11p.). ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202245294⟩- insu-03894063
On a radiolytic origin of red organics at the surface of the Arrokoth Trans-Neptunian Object
Quirico E., Bacmann A., Wolters C., Augé B., Flandinet L., Launois T., Cooper J., Vuitton V., Gautier T., Jovanovic L., Boduch P., et al.
Icarus, 2023, 394 (April), pp.115396. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115396⟩- insu-03901032
Moonraker: Enceladus Multiple Flyby Mission
Mousis O., Bouquet A., Langevin Y., André N., Boithias H., Durry G., Faye F., Hartogh P., Helbert J., Iess L., Kempf S., et al.
The Planetary Science Journal, 2022, 3, 268 (12pp). ⟨10.3847/psj/ac9c03⟩- insu-03895409
The Mars system revealed by the Martian Moons eXploration mission
Ogohara K., Nakagawa H., Aoki S., Kouyama T., Usui T., Terada N., Imamura T., Montmessin F., Brain D., Doressoundiram A., Gautier T., et al.
Earth Planets and Space, 2022, 74, pp.1. ⟨10.1186/s40623-021-01417-0⟩- insu-03510824
Compositional Measurements of Saturn’s Upper Atmosphere and Rings from Cassini INMS: An Extended Analysis of Measurements from Cassini’s Grand Finale Orbits
Serigano J., Hörst S. M., He C., Gautier T., Yelle R. V., Koskinen T. T., Trainer M. G., Radke M.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2022, 127 (6), pp.e2022JE007238. ⟨10.1029/2022JE007238⟩- insu-03670148
ESA’s Cometary Mission Rosetta – Re‐Characterization of the COSAC Mass Spectrometry Results
Leseigneur G., Bredehöft J. H., Gautier T., Giri C., Krüger H., Macdermott A., Meierhenrich U., Muñoz Caro G., Raulin F., Steele A., Steininger H., et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2022, 61 (29), pp.e202201925. ⟨10.1002/anie.202201925⟩- insu-03650139
Science goals and new mission concepts for futureexploration of Titan’s atmosphere, geologyand habitability: titan POlar scout/orbitEr and in situ lakelander and DrONe explorer (POSEIDON)
Rodriguez S., Vinatier S., Cordier D., Tobie G., Achterberg R. K., Anderson C. M., Badman S. V., Barnes J. W., Barth E. L., Bézard B., Carrasco N., et al.
Experimental Astronomy, 2022, 54, pp.911-973. ⟨10.1007/s10686-021-09815-8⟩- hal-03395339
COSAC's Only Gas Chromatogram Taken on Comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko
Leseigneur G., Bredehöft J. H., Gautier T., Giri C., Krüger H., Macdermott A., Meierhenrich U., Muñoz Caro G., Raulin F., Steele A., Szopa C., et al.
ChemPlusChem, 2022, 87 (6), pp.e202200116. ⟨10.1002/cplu.202200116⟩- hal-04266821
MIRS: an imaging spectrometer for the MMX mission
Barucci M. A., Reess J.-M., Bernardi P., Doressoundiram A., Fornasier S., Le Du M., Iwata T., Nakagawa H., Nakamura T., André Y., Aoki S., et al.
Earth Planets and Space, 2021, 73, pp.211. ⟨10.1186/s40623-021-01423-2⟩- insu-03474821
Testing tholins as analogues of the dark reddish material covering Pluto’s Cthulhu region
Fayolle M., Quirico E., Schmitt B., Gautier T., Jovanovic L., Carrasco N., Grundy W., Vuitton V., Poch O., Protopapa S., Young L., et al.
Icarus, 2021, 367 (October), pp.114574. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114574⟩- insu-03248115
Infrared spectroscopy quantification of functional carbon groups in kerogens and coals: A calibration procedure
Phan V. T., Quirico E., Beck P., Le Brech Y., Jovanovic L., Le Guillou C., Bernard S., Bonal L., Carrasco N., Gautier T., Raya J.
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy [1994-..], 2021, 259 (October), pp.119853. ⟨10.1016/j.saa.2021.119853⟩- insu-03208201
Imaging Titan’s Organic Haze at Atomic Scale
Schulz F., Maillard J., Kaiser K., Schmitz-Afonso I., Gautier T., Afonso C., Carrasco N., Gross L.
The Astrophysical journal letters, 2021, 908, L13(11pp). ⟨10.3847/2041-8213/abd93e⟩- insu-03141605
Suggested plausible structures for Titan's haze analogs using tandem mass spectrometry
Maillard J., Schmitz-Afonso I., Gautier T., Afonso C., Carrasco N.
Icarus, 2021, 358 (April), pp.114181. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114181⟩- insu-02982671
Optical constants of Pluto aerosol analogues from UV to near-IR
Jovanovic L., Gautier T., Broch L., Protopapa S., Bertrand T., Rannou P., Fayolle M., Quirico E., Johann L., Naciri A. E., Carrasco N.
Icarus, 2021, 162 (July), pp.114398. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114398⟩- insu-03154248
Optimization of ion trajectories in a dynamically harmonized Fourier‐Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance cell using a Design of Experiments strategy
Maillard J., Ferey J., Rüger C. P., Schmitz-Afonso I., Bekri S., Gautier T., Carrasco N., Afonso C., Tebani A.
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2020, 34 (7), pp.e8659. ⟨10.1002/rcm.8659⟩- insu-02395300
Structural elucidation of soluble organic matter: Application to Titan's haze
Maillard J., Hupin S., Carrasco N., Schmitz-Afonso I., Gautier T., Afonso C.
Icarus, 2020, 340, pp.113627. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113627⟩- insu-02436390
Disk-resolved Photometric Properties of Pluto and the Coloring Materials across its Surface
Protopapa S., Olkin C. B., Grundy W. M., Li J.-Y., Verbiscer A., Cruikshank D. P., Gautier T., Quirico E., Cook J. C., Reuter D., Howett C. J. A., et al.
The Astronomical Journal, 2020, 159 (2), pp.74. ⟨10.3847/1538-3881/ab5e82⟩- insu-02468367
Positive Ion Chemistry in an N2-CH4 Plasma Discharge: Key Precursors to the Growth of Titan Tholins
Dubois D., Carrasco N., Jovanovic L., Vettier L., Gautier T., Westlake J.
Icarus, 2020, 338 (1 March), pp.art. 113437. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113437⟩- insu-02305252
Laboratory experiments to unveil the molecular reactivity occurring during the processing of ices in the protosolar nebula
Gautier T., Danger G., Mousis O., Duvernay F., Vuitton V., Flandinet L., Thissen R., Orthous-Daunay F.-R., Ruf A., Chiavassa T., d'Hendecourt L. S.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2020, 531 (1 February), pp.art. 116011. ⟨10.1016/j.epsl.2019.116011⟩- hal-02396048
High‐resolution mass spectrometry for future space missions: Comparative analysis of complex organic matter with LAb‐CosmOrbitrap and laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance
Selliez L., Maillard J., Cherville B., Gautier T., Thirkell L., Gaubicher B., Schmitz-Afonso I., Afonso C., Briois C., Carrasco N.
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2020, 34 (10), pp.e8645. ⟨10.1002/rcm.8645⟩- insu-02343359
On an EUV atmospheric simulation chamber to study the photochemical processes of titan's atmosphere
Bourgalais J., Carrasco N., Vettier L., Gautier T., Blanchet V., Petit S., Descamps D., Fedorov N., Delos R., Gaudin J.
Scientific Reports, 2020, 10, pp.10009. ⟨10.1038/s41598-020-66950-6⟩- insu-02879249
Chemical composition of Pluto aerosol analogues
Jovanovic L., Gautier T., Vuitton V., Wolters C., Bourgalais J., Buch A., Orthous-Daunay F.-R., Vettier L., Flandinet L., Carrasco N.
Icarus, 2020, 346, pp.113774. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113774⟩- insu-02533967
Interaction dust – plasma in Titan's ionosphere: An experimental simulation of aerosols erosion
Chatain A., Carrasco N., Ruscassier N., Gautier T., Vettier L., Guaitella O.
Icarus, 2020, 345, pp.113741. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113741⟩- insu-02506044
Compositional Measurements of Saturn's Upper Atmosphere and Rings from Cassini INMS
Serigano J., Hörst S. M., He C., Gautier T., Yelle R. V., Koskinen T. T., Trainer M. G.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2020, 125 (8), pp.e2020JE006427. ⟨10.1029/2020JE006427⟩- insu-02733230
Decomposition of electron ionization mass spectra for space application using a Monte‐Carlo approach
Gautier T., Serigano J., Bourgalais J., Hörst S., Trainer M. G.
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2020, 34 (8), pp.e8684. ⟨10.1002/rcm.8684⟩- insu-02393452
Structural Study of Analogues of Titan’s Haze by Trapped Ion Mobility Coupled with a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Mass Spectrometer
Rüger C. P., Maillard J., Le Maître J., Ridgeway M., Thompson C., Schmitz-Afonso I., Gautier T., Carrasco N., Park M., Giusti P., Afonso C.
Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2019, 30 (7), pp.1169-1173. ⟨10.1007/s13361-019-02205-7⟩- insu-02123537
Comparison of soluble and insoluble organic matter in analogues of Titan's aerosols
Maillard J., Carrasco N., Schmitz-Afonso I., Gautier T., Afonso C.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2018, 495, pp.185-191. ⟨10.1016/j.epsl.2018.05.014⟩- insu-01802505
Detection Opportunity for Aromatic Signature in Titan's Aerosols in the 4.1–5.3 μm Range
Mathé C., Gautier T., Trainer M. G., Carrasco N.
The Astrophysical journal letters, 2018, 861 (2), pp.art. L25. ⟨10.3847/2041-8213/aacf88⟩- insu-01838461
Decay of COSAC and Ptolemy mass spectra at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Krüger H., Goesmann F., Giri C., Wright I., Morse A., Bredehöft J. H., Ulamec S., Cozzoni B., Ehrenfreund P., Gautier T., Mckenna-Lawlor S., et al.
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2017, 600, A56 (7 p.). ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201630286⟩- hal-01452008