Alexey Potapov

Dr. habil. Alexey Potapov

Heisenberg position
Alexey Potapov
Image: Alexey Potapov

Research interests:

  • Physics and chemistry of interstellar clouds, planet-forming disks and (exo)planetary atmospheres
  • Formation, evolution, and properties of cosmic dust grains
  • Catalytic formation of molecules on cosmic dust grains
  • Exogenous synthesis and delivery of biomolecular precursors to early Earth
  • Development of experimental setups for atmospheric chemistry and astrochemical studies

Research instruments:

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Observational radio and infrared astronomy
  • Professional career

    from 01/2024: Heisenberg position, Institute of Geoschiences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

    08/2023 – 12/2023: Heisenberg position, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

    04/2016 – 07/2023: Postdoctoral researcher, Laboratory Astrophysics Group of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena

    03/2012 – 03/2016: Postdoctoral researcher, I. Physical Institute, University of Cologne

    09/2005 – 12/2006: Assistant professor, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas

    05/2005 – 04/2012: Senior researcher, Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences

  • Academic career

    Academic career:

    12/2018: Habilitation in Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

    02/2005: PhD, Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University

    01/2002: Diploma in Physics, Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University

  • Publications

    72. Potapov A., Pollok K., Langenhorst F., McCoustra M., Garrod R., “Cosmic dust as a prerequisite for the formation of complex organic molecules in space?”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2025, 993, 49, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae08aeExternal link

    71. Potapov A., McCoustra M., Tazaki R., Bergin E., Bromley S., Garrod R., Rimola A., “Is Cosmic Dust Porous?”, The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 2025, 33, 6, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00159-025-00164-5External link

    70. Pendleton Y.J., …, Potapov A., … (17 authors), “A Tale of Two Sightlines: Comparison of Hydrocarbon Dust Absorption Bands toward Cygnus OB2-12 and the Galactic Center”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2025, 992 8, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adfc3dExternal link

    69. Hansen K., …, Potapov A., … (116 authors), “Roadmap on carbon molecular nanostructures in space”, The European Physical Journal D, 2025, 79, 94, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/s10053-025-00984-1External link

    68. Zeegers S., …., Potapov A., … (36 authors), “Investigating silicate, carbon, and water in the diffuse interstellar medium: the first shots from WISCI”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2025, 987, 25, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/add73bExternal link

    67. Potapov A., Linz H., Bouwman J., Rocha W., Martin J., Wolf S., Henning T., Terada H., “Simple molecules and complex chemistry in a protoplanetary disk. A JWST investigation of the highly inclined disk d216-0939”, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2025, 697, A53, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202453385External link

    66. Potapov A. and Garrod R., “Influence of the C + H2O → H2CO Solid-state Reaction on Astrochemical Networks and Formation of Complex Organic Molecules”, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A252, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450958External link

    65. Potapov A., “Astrochemistry involving dust grains”, Bunsen-Magazin of the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry, 2024, 4, 92, DOI: 10.26125/d4pf-x734

    64. Potapov A., Jäger C., Mutschke H., Henning T., “Trapped water on silicates in the laboratory and in astrophysical environments”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2024, 965, 48, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2c07External link

    63. Potapov A., Semenov D., Jäger C., Henning T., “Formation of CO2 driven by photochemistry of water ice mixed with carbon grains”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2023, 954, 167, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acebccExternal link

    62. Potapov A. and Bouwman J., “Importance of laboratory experimental studies of silicate grains for exoplanet atmosphere characterization”, Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 2022, 9, 912302, DOI: 10.3389/fspas.2022.912302

    61. Potapov A., Palumbo M. E., Dionnet Z., Longobardo A., Jäger C., Baratta G., Rotundi A., Henning T., “Exploring refractory organics in extraterrestrial particles”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2022, 935, 158, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac7f32External link

    60. Potapov A., Fulvio D., Krasnokutski S., Jäger C., and Henning T., “Formation of complex organic and prebiotic molecules in H2O:NH3:CO2 ices at temperatures relevant to hot cores, protostellar envelopes and planet-forming disks”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2022, 126, 1627, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c10188External link

    59. Potapov A. and McCoustra M., “Physics and chemistry on the surface of cosmic dust grains: a laboratory view”, International Reviews in Physical Chemistry, 2021, 40, 299, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144235X.2021.1918498External link

    58. Fulvio D., Potapov A., He J., Henning T., “Astrochemical pathways to complex organic and prebiotic molecules: experimental perspectives for in situ solid-state studies”, Life, 2021, 11, 568, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060568External link

    57. Potapov A., Krasnokutski S., Jäger C., and Henning T., “A new “non-energetic” route to complex organic molecules in astrophysical environments: the C + H2O solid-state reaction”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2021, 920, 111, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac1a70External link

    56. Potapov A., Bouwman J., Jäger C., Henning T., “Dust/ice mixing in cold regions and solid-state water in the diffuse interstellar medium”, Nature Astronomy, 2021, 5, 78, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01214-xExternal link

    55. Potapov A., Jäger C., Henning T., “Ice coverage of dust grains in cold astrophysical environments”, Physical Review Letters, 2020, 124, 221103 (Editor Highlighted Paper), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.221103External link

    54. Potapov A., Jäger C., Henning T., “Thermal formation of ammonium carbamate on the surface of laboratory analogs of carbonaceous grains in protostellar envelopes and planet-forming disks”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2020, 894, 110, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab86b5External link

    53. Theulé P., Endres C., Hermanns M., Zingsheim O., Bossa J.B., Potapov A., “High-resolution gas phase spectroscopy of molecules desorbed from an ice surface: a proof-of-principle study”, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2020, 4, 86, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.9b00246External link

    52. Kim M., Wolf S., Potapov A., Mutschke H., and Jäger C., “Constraining the detectability of water ice in debris disks”, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2019, 629, A141, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936014External link

    51. Potapov A., Jäger C., Henning T., “Photodesorption of water ice from dust grains and thermal desorption of cometary ices studied by the INSIDE experiment”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2019, 880, 12, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab25e7External link

    50. Potapov A., Theulé P., Jäger C., and Henning T., “Evidence of surface catalytic effect on cosmic dust grain analogues: the ammonia and carbon dioxide surface reaction”, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2019, 878, L20, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab2538External link

    49. Ocaña A.J., Blázquez S., Potapov A., Ballesteros B., Canosa A., Antiñolo M., Vereecken L., Albaladejo J., Jiménez E., “Gas-phase reactivity of CH3OH toward OH at interstellar temperatures (11.7 - 177.0 K): Experimental and theoretical study”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2019, 21, 6942, DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00439d

    48. Potapov A., Jäger C., Henning T., “Temperature programed desorption of water ice from the surface of amorphous carbon and silicate grains as related to planet-forming disks”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2018, 865, 58, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aad803External link

    47. Potapov A., Mutschke H., Seeber P., Henning T., Jäger C., “Low temperature optical properties of interstellar and circumstellar icy silicate grain analogues in the mid-infrared spectral region”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2018, 861, 84, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aac6d3External link

    46. Asselin P., Belkhodja Y., Jabri A., Potapov A., Loreau J., van der Avoird A., “Rovibrational laser jet-cooled spectroscopy of the NH3-Ar complex in the v2 umbrella region of NH3: comparison between new infrared data and an ab initio calculated spectrum”, Molecular Physics, 2018, 116, 3642, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00268976.2018.1471533External link

    45. Potapov A., Jäger C., Henning T., Jonusas M., Krim L., “The formation of formaldehyde on interstellar carbonaceous grain analogs by O/H atom addition”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2017, 846, 131, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa85e8External link

    44. Asselin P., Potapov A., Turner A., Boudon V., Bruel L., Gaveau M. A., and Mons M., “Conformational landscape of the SF6 dimer as revealed by high resolution infrared spectroscopy and complexation with rare gas atoms”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2017, 19, 17224, DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02529g

    43. Potapov A., Canosa A., Jiménez E., Rowe B., “Uniform Supersonic Chemical Reactors: 30 years of astrochemical history and future challenges”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2017, 56, 2, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201611240External link

    42. Potapov A., “Weakly bound molecular complexes in the laboratory and in the interstellar medium: A lost interest?”, Molecular Astrophysics, 2017, 6, 16, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molap.2017.01.001External link

    41. Potapov A., Sanchez-Monge A., Schilke P., Graf U.U., Möller Th., Schlemmer S., “The CO-H2 van der Waals complex and complex organic molecules in cold molecular clouds: a TMC-1C survey” Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2016, 594, A117, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201628426External link

    40. Asvany O., Yamada K.M.T., Brünken S., Potapov A., and Schlemmer S., “Experimental Ground State Combination Differences of CH5+”, Science, 2015, 347, 1346, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa3304

    39. Surin L.A., Potapov A., Dolgov A.A., Tarabukin I.V., Panfilov V.A., Schlemmer S., Kalugina Yu., Faure A., and van der Avoird A., “Rotational study of the NH3–CO complex: millimeter-wave measurements and ab initio calculations”, Journal of Chemical Physics, 2015, 142, 114308, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4915119External link

    38. Surin L.A., Potapov A., Müller H.S.P., and Schlemmer S., “A new millimeter-wave observation of the weakly bound CO–N2 complex”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 2015, 307, 54, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jms.2014.12.016External link

    37. Potapov A., Surin L., Schlemmer S., “First observation of the rotational spectrum of the HD–CO weakly bound complex”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 2015, 307, 18, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jms.2014.11.006External link

    36. Potapov A., Asselin P., “High resolution jet spectroscopy of weakly bound binary complexes involving water”, International Reviews in Physical Chemistry, 2014, 33, 275, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0144235X.2014.932578External link

    35. Potapov A., Lewen F., Mutschke H., Mohr P., Schlemmer S., “Total power millimeter-wave spectrometer for measurements of dust opacity at cryogenic temperatures”, Review of Scientific Instruments, 2014, 85, 073102, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4887416External link

    34. Jankowski P., Surin L.A., Potapov A., Schlemmer S., McKellar A.R.W., Szalewicz K., “A comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of H2-CO Spectra”, Journal of Chemical Physics, 2013, 138, 084307, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4791712External link

    33. Potapov A.V., Dolgov A.A., Surin L.A., „Millimeter-wave spectroscopy of the weakly bound molecular complex NH3-N2“, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2012, 113, 1

    32. Dolgov A.A., Panfilov V.A., Potapov A.V., Surin L.A., „Study of the spectrum of the Kr-CO weakly bound molecular complex in the millimeter-wavelength rangeExternal link“, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2012, 112, 696

    31. Potapov A.V., Dolgov A.A., Panfilov V.A., Surin L.A., and Schlemmer S., “Millimeter-wave study of the CH4–CO complex: New measurements with OROTRON spectrometer”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 2011, 268, 112, DOI: 10.1016/j.jms.2011.03.018

    30. Potapov A.V., Surin L.A., Schlemmer S., and Giesen T.F., “Submillimeter-wave spectroscopy of the K = 2 – 1 subband of the Ne–CO complex”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 2011, 270, 116, DOI: 10.1016/j.jms.2011.09.007

    29. Potapov A.V., “Particular Features of Circular Dichroism Spectra of Resin-Asphaltene Compounds in Solvent and Crude Oil”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2011, 110, 730

    28. Potapov A.V., Panfilov V.A., Surin L.A., Dumesh B.S., “The problem of the structure (state of helium) in small HeN–CO clusters”, Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, 2010, 111, 770

    27. Raston P.L., Xu Y., Jäger W., Potapov A.V., Surin L.A., Dumesh B.S., Schlemmer S., “Rotational study of carbon monoxide isotopologues in small 4He clusters”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2010 12, 8260, DOI: 10.1039/c0cp00193g

    26. Potapov A.V., Kolyakov S.F., “Investigation of Influence of Electric Field on Optical Circular Dichroism of Crude Oil”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2010, 108, 968

    25. Potapov A.V., Surin L.A., Panfilov V.A., Dumesh B.S., Giesen T.F., Schlemmer S., Raston P.L., and Jäger W., “Rotational spectroscopy of the CO–paraH2 molecular complex”, The Astrophysical Journal, 2009, 703, 2108, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/2108External link

    24. Kalinin A.V., Krasheninnikov V.N., Potapov A.V., “Effect of dispersion structure variation on chemometrical calibration of near infrared spectrometer: protein fractions in milk and reversed micelles solutions”, Chemometrics and intelligent laboratory systems, 2009, 97, 33, DOI: 10.1016/j.chemolab.2008.08.007

    23. Potapov A.V., Panfilov V.A., Dolgov A.A., Surin L.A., Dumesh B.S., “Microwave Spectroscopy of the Weakly Bound CO–ortho-D2 Molecular Complex”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2009, 106, 655

    22. Potapov A.V., Panfilov V.A., Surin L.A., Dumesh B.S., “Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy of Weakly Bound Molecular Complexes: Isotopologues of He–CO”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2009, 106, 183

    21. Dumesh B.S., Potapov A.V., Surin L.A., “Spectroscopy of small helium clusters and “nanoscopic” superfluidity: HeN–CO, N = 2 – 20...”, Physics – Uspekhi, 2009, 52, 294, DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0179.200903m.0317

    20. Surin L.A., Potapov A.V., Dumesh B.S., Schlemmer S., Xu Y., Raston P.L., Jäger W., “Rotational Study of Carbon Monoxide Solvated with Helium Atoms”, Physical Review Letters, 2008, 101, 233401, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.233401External link

    19. Potapov A.V., Kolyakov S.F., Krasheninnikov V.N., Syunyaev R.Z., “Circular dichroism of crude oils: influence of micelle formation”, Energy and Fuels, 2008, 22, 561, DOI: 10.1021/ef070166m

    18. Potapov A.V., Syunyaev, R.Z., “Cluster formation in dispersion systems: oil and micellar systems”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2008, 104, 462

    17. Syunyaev R.Z., Potapov A.V., “Spectroscopy of petroleum nanodispersed systems: tasks, methods, and perspectives”, Innovations of Moscow region, 2008, 3, 3 (in Russian)

    16. Potapov A.V., Alekseev D.B., Alekseeva I.G., Saletsky A.M., “Investigation of cluster formation in reversed micelles systems by the method of correlation spectroscopy of scattered light”, Laser Physics Letters, 2007, 4, 61, DOI: 10.1002/lapl.200610060

    15. Potapov A.V., “Determination of the content of resinous asphaltenic substances in crude oil using absorption spectroscopy in the near ultraviolet spectral region”, Russian Journal of Oil and Gas Technologies, 2007, 6, 62 (in Russian)

    14. Potapov A.V., Kolyakov S.F., Krasheninnikov V.N. and Dumesh B.S., “Circular dichroism of crude oil and its derivatives. Role of permolecular structures”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2006, 303, 159, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2006.07.040

    13. Surin L.A., Potapov A.V., Müller H.S.P., Panfilov V.A., Dumesh B.S., Giesen T., Schlemmer S. “Millimeter-wave study of the CO–N2 van der Waals complex: new measurements of CO–orthoN2 and assignments of new states of CO–paraN2“, Journal of Molecular Structure, 2006, 795, 198, DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2006.02.027

    12. Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Association of rhodamine 6G in light and heavy water solutions” Optics and Spectroscopy, 2006, 100, 30

    11. Potapov A.V., Kolyakov S.F., Krasheninnikov V.N., Dumesh B.S., “Optical circular dichroism as a new method for the determination of the lower aggregation threshold of asphaltenes in crude oil”, Russian Journal of Oil and Gas Technologies, 2006, 6, 58 (in Russian)

    10. Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Fluorescence saturation of dye molecules in water pools of reversed micelles”, Laser Physics Letters, 2005, 2, 476, DOI: 10.1002/lapl.200510036

    9. Surin L.A., Potapov A.V., Panfilov V.A., Dumesh B.S., Winnewisser G., “Millimeter-wave spectrum of Ne–CO: new measurements”, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 2005, 230, 149, DOI: 10.1016/j.jms.2004.11.007

    8. Domnina N.A., Korolev A.F., Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Influence of microwave radiation on the association processes of rhodamine 6G molecules in aqueous solutions”, Journal of Applied Spectroscopy, 2005, 72, 33

    7. Kuzmicheva A.N., Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Influence of structures of reversed micelle solutions on processes of electron excitation energy transfer”, Russian Journal of Chemical Physics, 2005, 24, 106 (in Russian)

    6. Andreev G.A., Potapov A.V., Saletskii A.M., “Electronic excitation energy transfer between dye molecules in H2O and D2O solutions in the micellar phase”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2004, 97, 883

    5. Domnina N.A., Potapov A.V., Saletskii A.M., “Biomolecular processes between dye molecules and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the surface of a semiconductor–dielectric structure”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2004, 96, 515

    4. Andreev G.A., Lozovaya T.N., Potapov A.V., Saletskii A.M., “Electronic energy transfer between dye molecules in structured solutions of H2O and D2O”, Optics and Spectroscopy, 2003, 94, 16

    3. Domnina N.A., Lozovaya T.N., Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Magneto-optical study of water system structure”, Moscow University Physics Bulletin, 2003, 47 (in Russian)

    2. Lozovaya T.N., Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Transfer of energy of electronic excitation between molecules of colours in aqueous systems. Role of water structure”, Russian Journal of Chemical Physics, 2002, 21, 3 (in Russian)

    1. Lozovaya T.N., Potapov A.V., Saletsky A.M., “Influence of the structure of water-alcohol solutions of dyes on their molecular association”, Journal of Applied Spectroscopy, 2001, 68, 548

     

    Habilitation

    “Laboratory astrophysics: spectroscopy and instrumentation for the gas phase and the solid state”

    2018, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

    https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00037958External link

     

    PhD

    “Study of photophysical processes in solutions of dyes molecules in bulk and micellar water” (in

    Russian)

    2005, Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

     

  • Currently funded research projects

    “Diffusion of Reactants on Dust Surfaces. A Door to Understanding Surface Chemistry in Space”, German Research Foundation (DFG) and French National Research Agency (ANR), joint project, 2026 – 2028   

    “Step-by-step towards the Origin of Life. Formation of Complex Organic and Prebiotic Molecules in Space”, German Research Foundation (DFG), 2023 – 2028