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Guillermo M. Muñoz Caro, Ph.D.


Department of Natural Sciences
Astrophysics

Education

Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Leiden University, The Netherlands, 2003.
B.Sc. in Physics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 1998.

Practice Areas

  • Molecular astrophysics
  • Cometary missions
  • Ultra-high vacuum technologies

Publications and Media Placements

Articles published since 2018:

Fuente, A.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Beitia-Antero, L.; Caselli, P.; Wakelam, V.; Esplugues,
G.; Rodríguez-Baras, M.; Navarro-Almaida, D.; Gerin, M.; Kramer, C.; Bachiller,
R.; Goicoechea, J. R.; Jiménez-Serra, I.; Loison, J. C.; Ivlev, A.; Martín-Doménech, R.;
Spezzano, S.; Roncero, O.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cazaux, S.; Marcelino, N.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS) VII. Sulfur elemental abundance.
A&A, in press (2022).

Mousis, O.; Bouquet, A.; Langevin, Y.; André, N.; Boithias, H.; Durry, G.; Faye,
F.; Hartogh, P.; Helbert, J.; Iess, L.; Kempf, S.; Masters, A.; Postberg, F.; Renard, J.-B.;
Vernazza, P.; Vorburger, A.; Wurz, P.; Atkinson, D. H.; Barabash, S.; Berthomier, M.; Brucato,
J.; Cable, M.; Carter, J.; Cazaux, S.; Coustenis, A.; Danger, G.; Dehant, V.; Fornaro,
T.; Garnier, P.; Gautier, T.; Groussin, O.; Hadid, L. Z.; Ize, J. -C.; Kolmasova, I.; Lebreton,
J. -P.; Le Maistre, S.; Lellouch, E.; Lunine, J. I.; Mandt, K. E.; Martins, Z.; Mimoun, D.;
Nenon, Q.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Rannou, P.; Rauer, H.; Schmitt-Kopplin, P.; Schneeberger,
A.; Simons, M.; Stephan, K.; Van Hoolst, T.; Vaverka, J.; Wieser, M.; Wörner, L.
Moonraker: Enceladus Multiple Flyby Mission.
The Planetary Science Journal, 3, id.268 (2022).

González Díaz, C.; Carrascosa, H.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Satorre, M. Á.; Chen, Y. -J.
Density and infrared band strength of interstellar carbon monoxide (CO) ice analogues.
MNRAS, 517, issue 4, 5744–5755 (2022).

Herrero, V. J.; Tanarro, I.; Jiménez-Serra, I.; Carrascosa, H.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Maté, B.
Stability of urea in astrophysical ices. A laboratory study of VUV irradiation and highenergy
electron bombardment.
MNRAS, 517, issue 1, 1058–1070 (2022).

Sie, N.-E.; Cho, Y.-T.; Huang, C.-H.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Hsiao, L.-C.; Lin, H.-C.; Chen, Y.-J.
Key Parameters Controlling the Photodesorption Yield in Interstellar CO Ice Analogs: The
Influence of Ice Deposition Temperature and Thickness.
ApJ, 938, issue 1, id.48

Esplugues, G.; Fuente, A.; Navarro-Almaida, D.; Rodríguez-Baras, M.; Majumdar, L.; Caselli, P.; 
Wakelam, V.; Roueff, E.; Bachiller, R.; Spezzano, S.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Martín-Doménech, R.; 
Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS). VI. A sulfur journey across
star-forming regions: study of thioformaldehyde emission.
A&A, 662, A52 (2022).

Leseigneur, G.; Bredehöft, J. H.; Gautier, Th.; Giri, C.; Krüger, H.; MacDermott,
A. J.; Meierhenrich, U. J.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Raulin, F.; Steele, A.; Szopa, C.; Thiemann,
W.; Ulamec, S.; Goesmann, F.
COSAC’s Only Gas Chromatogram Taken on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
ChemPlusChem, 87, e202200116 (2022).

Leseigneur, G.; Bredehöft, J. H.; Gautier, Th.; Giri, C.; Krüger, H.; MacDermott,
A. J.; Meierhenrich, U. J.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Raulin, F.; Steele, A.; Steininger, H.;
Szopa, C.; Thiemann, W.; Ulamec, S.; Goesmann, F.
ESA’s Cometary Mission Rosetta—Re-Characterization of the COSAC Mass Spectrometry
Results.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61, issue 29, e202201925 (2022).

González Díaz, C.; Aparicio, S.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. (co-corresponding author) ;
Anaya, J. J.; Carrascosa, H.; Hernández, M. G.; Muñoz-Iglesias, V.; Marcos-Fernández, Á.;
Prieto-Ballesteros, O.; Lorente, R.; Witasse, O.; Altobelli, N.
Thermal Conductivity measurements of macroscopic frozen Salt Ice analogs of Jovian Icy
moons in support of the planned JUICE mission.
MNRAS, 510, 4166—4179 (2022).

Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ;
Huang, C.-H.; Sie, N.-E.; Chen, Y.-J.
X-ray-induced Diffusion and Mixing in Layered Astrophysical Ices.
ApJ, 926, 176 (2022).

Cazaux, S.; Carrascosa, H.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Caselli, P.; Fuente, A.; Navarro-
Almaida, D.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.
Photoprocessing of H2 S on dust grains. Building S chains in translucent clouds and comets.
A&A, 657, A100 (2022).

Carrascosa, H.; González Díaz, C.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. (corresponding author) ;
Suevos, J.; Chen, Y.-J.
The Intriguing Behavior of Ultraviolet Photodesorption and Color Temperature of Astrophysical
CO Ice Analogs: A Possible Indication of Molecular Disorder.
ApJ, 916, 1 (2021).

Carrascosa, H.; González Díaz, C.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Gómez, P. C.; Sanz, M. L.
Synthesis of the first nitrogen-heterocycles in interstellar ice analogues containing methylamine
(CH3 NH2 ) exposed to UV radiation: formation of trimethylentriamine (TMT, c-(-
CH2 -NH)3 ) and hexamethylentetramine (HMT, (CH2 )6 N4 ).
MNRAS, 506, 791 (2021).

Mendonck, M.; Aparicio, S.; González Díaz, C.; Hernández, M. G.; Muñoz Caro,
G. M. ; Anaya, J. J.; Cazaux, S.
Ultrasonic Propagation in Liquid and Ice Water Drops. Effect of Porosity.
Sensors, 21, 4790 (2021).

Maté Naya, B.; Carrasco-Herrera, R.; Timón, V; Tanarro, I.; Herrero, V. J.; Carrascosa,
H.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; González Díaz, C.; Jiménez-Serra, I.
2-aminooxazole in Astrophysical Environments: IR Spectra and Destruction Cross Sections
for Energetic Processing.
ApJ, 909, 123 (2021). 

Rodríguez-Baras, M.; Fuente, A.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Navarro-Almaida, D.; Caselli,
P.; Gerin, M.; Kramer, C.; Roueff, E.; Wakelam, V.; Esplugues, G.; García-Burillo, S.;
Le Gal, R.; Spezzano, S.; Alonso-Albi, T.; Bachiller, R.; Cazaux, S.; Commercon, B.;
Goicoechea, J. R.; Loison, J. C.; Treviño-Morales, S. P.; Roncero, O.; Jiménez-Serra, I.;
Laas, J.; Hacar, A.; Kirk, J.; Lattanzi, V.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ;
Pineda, J. E.; Tercero, B.; Ward-Thompson, D.; Tafalla, M.; Marcelino, N.; Malinen, J.;
Friesen, R.; Giuliano, B. M.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS). IV. Observational results
and statistical trends.
A&A, 648, A120 (2021).

Bulut, N.; Roncero, O.; Aguado, A.; Loison, J. -C.; Navarro-Almaida, D.; Wakelam,
V.; Fuente, A.; Roueff, E.; Le Gal, R.; Caselli, P.; Gerin, M.; Hickson, K. M.; Spezzano,
S.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Alonso-Albi, T.; Bachiller, R.; Jiménez-Serra, I.; Kramer, C.;
Tercero, B.; Rodriguez-Baras, M.; García-Burillo, S.; Goicoechea, J. R.; Treviño-Morales, S.
P.; Esplugues, G.; Cazaux, S.; Commercon, B.; Laas, J.; Kirk, J.; Lattanzi, V.; Martín-
Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Pineda, J.; Ward-Thompson, D.; Tafalla, M.;
Marcelino, N.; Malinen, J.; Friesen, R.; Giuliano, B. M.; Agúndez, M.; Hacar, A.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS). III. Unlocking the CS chemistry:
the CS+O reaction.
A&A, 646, A5 (2021).

Ciaravella, A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.;
Hsiao, L.-C.; Huang, C.-H.; Chen, Y.-J.
X-ray processing of a realistic ice mantle can explain the gas abundances in protoplanetary
disks.
PNAS, 117, Issue 28, 116149 (2020).

Navarro-Almaida, D.; Le Gal, R.; Fuente, A.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Wakelam, V.;
Cazaux, S.; Caselli, P.; Laas, J. C.; Alonso-Albi, T.; Loison, J. C.; Gerin, M.; Kramer, C.;
Roueff, E.; Bachiller, R.; Commercon, B.; Friesen, R.; Garcia-Burillo, S.; Goicoechea, J. R.;
Giuliano, B. M.; Jimenez-Serra, I.; Kirk, J. M.; Lattanzi, V.; Malinen, J.; Marcelino, N.;
Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Pineda, J.; Tercero, B.; Treviño-Morales, S.
P.; Roncero, O.; Hacar, A.; Tafalla, M.; Ward-Thompson, D.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS): II. On the quest for the
sulphur reservoir in molecular clouds: the H2 S case.
A&A, 637, A39 (2020). 

Carrascosa, H.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Dartois, E.; Chen, Y.-J.
Photon-induced desorption of larger species in UV-irradiated methane ice.
MNRAS, 493, 821-829 (2020). 

Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Ciaravella, A.; .; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.;
González Díaz, C.;Chen, Y.-J.
X-ray versus UV irradiation of astrophysical ice analogs leading to COMs formation.
ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, invited article to Special Issue entitled Complex Organic
Molecules (COMs) in Star-Forming Regions, volume 3, 2138-2157 (2019). IF=3.418, Q1.

Mateo-Martí, E.; Prieto-Ballesteros, O.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; González Díaz, C.;
Muñoz-Iglesias, V.; Gálvez-Martínez, S.
Characterizing Interstellar Medium, Planetary Surface and Deep Environments by Spectroscopic
Techniques Using Unique Simulation Chambers at Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB).
Life, 9, 72, 18 pages (2019). 

González Díaz, C.; Carrascosa de Lucas, H.; Aparicio, S.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ;
Sie , N.-E.; Hsiao, L.-C.; Chen, Y.-J.
Accretion and photodesorption of CO ice as a function of the incident angle of deposition.
MNRAS, 486, 5519-5525 (2019).

Ciaravella, A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; Huang, C.-H.; Sie, N.-E.;
Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Chen, Y.-J.
Synthesis of Prebiotic Molecules in Soft X-ray Irradiated Ices.
ApJ, 879, art. id. 21, 11 pages (2019).

Carrascosa, H.; Hsiao, L.-C.; Sie , N.-E.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Chen, Y.-J.
13CO:N2  and 13CO2:N2  ice mixtures in photon energy transfer studies.
MNRAS, 486, 1985-1994 (2019).

Sie , N.-E.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. ; Huang, Z.-H.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Fuente,
A.; Chen, Y.-J.
On the Photodesorption of CO2  Ice Analogs: The Formation of Atomic C in the Ice and
the Effect of the VUV Emission Spectrum.
ApJ, 874, 35 (2019).

Fuente, A.; Navarro, D.; Caselli, P.; Gerin, M.; Krammer, C.; Roueff, E.; Wakelam,
V.; Alonso-Albi, T.; Bachiller, R.; Cazaux, S.; Commercon, B.; Friesen, R.; García-Burillo,
S.; Giuliano, B. M.; Goicoechea, J. R.; Gratier, P.; Hacar, A.; Jiménez-Serra, I.; Kirk, J.;
Lattanzi, V.; Loison, J. C.; Malinen, P. J.; Marcelino, N.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz
Caro, G. M. ; Pineda, J.; Tafalla, M.; Tercero, B.; Ward-Thompson, D.; Treviño-Morales,
S.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.; Roncero, O.; Vidal, T.
Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS) I. The prototypical dark
cloud TMC 1.
A&A, 624, A105 (2019).

Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; Huang, C.-H.; Sie, N.-E.;
Chen, Y.-J.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.
 X-ray photo-desorption of H2 O:CO:NH3  circumstellar ice analogs: Gas-phase enrichment.
ApJ, 868, article id. 73 (2018).

Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.
 New measurements on water ice photodesorption and product formation under ultraviolet
irradiation.
MNRAS, 474, 3080 (2018).

Martín-Doménech, R.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.
UV photoprocessing of NH3  ice: photon-induced desorption mechanisms.
MNRAS, 473, 2575 (2018).

Books:

Muñoz Caro, G. M. & Escribano, R. (editors)
Title: Laboratory Astrophysics (2018)
Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol. 451, Springer, 2018, ISBN 978-3-319-90020-9.

A. Bhardwaj; Muñoz Caro, G. M. (editors)
Advances in Geosciences, Vol. 22: Planetary Science (2008)
World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 2009

Selected conferences since 2018:

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Sulfur chemistry on ices.
Workshop "Linking Ice, gas and dust: Laboratory AstroChemistry (LILAC)", Madrid 23-25
Nov., 2022, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
UV and X-ray processing of ice mantles in planet-forming disks: Photodesorption of species
and COMs formation.
Conference From Clouds to Planets II: The Astrochemical Link, Harnack Haus, Berlin 3-7
Oct., 2022, invited oral presentation.  

Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Carrascosa, H.; González Díaz, C.; Cazaux, S.; Caselli, P.; Chen,
Y.-J., Fuente, A.; Navarro-Almaida, D.; Riviére-Marichalar, P.
Photodesorption experiments of Sulfur-species.
Real Observatorio, Madrid, June 22–24, 2022, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
La misión Rosetta, los cometas y el origen de la vida.
Ciclo de Conferencias del ITEFI, Madrid, Dec. 3, 2021, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Carrascosa, H.; González Díaz, C.; Cazaux, S.; Caselli, P.; Ciaravella, A.; 
Jiménez Escobar, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; Chen, Y.-J.
Thermal and photon-induced desorption dependence on ice mantle composition and physical properties.
Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop on Dust, Ice, and complex molecules in the ISM, Dornburger Castles, 
Germany, Nov. 22-24, 2021, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Thermal and photon-induced desorption dependence on ice mantle composition and physical properties.
Conference From prestellar cores to solar nebulae: the Formation and Evolution of Protoplanetary
discs (Core2Disk), Institut Pascal, Saclay, France 17-28 May, 2021, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Acreción y fotodesorción de hielo de CO en función del ángulo de deposición.
Conference Astrophysics Laboratory on Cosmic Organics and Ices (I-ALCOI), Alcoi 21-
23 May, 2019, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Spectroscopy of astrophysical ice analogs in the IR and vacuum-UV.
X Iberian Spectroscopy Conference and the XXVI National Spectroscopy Meeting (RNE),
Lisbon 9-11 July, 2018, invited plenary lecturer.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Los Cometas y el Orígen de la Vida.
XIV International Congress of Scientific Research, Santo Domingo (R. Dominicana) 6-8
June, 2018, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
Los Cometas y el Orígen de la Vida.
Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Santo Domingo (R. Dominicana) 5 June,
2018, invited oral presentation.

Muñoz Caro, G. M.
A comparison of UV, X-ray, and ion processing of icy dust analogs.
Cosmic Rays: The salt of the star formation recipe, Florence 2-4 May, 2018, invited oral presentation.

Professional Organizations and Associations

Coordinator of Interstellar and Circumstellar group at CAB since 2014.

Coordinator of Laboratory for Simulation of Interstellar and Planetary Environments at CAB.

NASA Group Achievement Award for participation in MSL REMS Instrument Development and Science Team for Mars Rover mission.

Referee: Nature, Science, ApJ, A&A, MNRAS, Icarus, Planetary and Space Science, Angewandte, PCCP, Journal of Chemical Physics, Symmetry, Advances in Geosciences, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets.

External expert of European ERC proposals.

Reviewer and/or panel member of scientific agencies: DFG (Germany), ANR (France), STFC & NERC (UK), NSC (Poland), CSF (Czech R.), FNRS (Belgium), NASA (USA), ANEP (Spain).