Monte Carlo Simulations of Biophysical Factors for Viability of Life in Exoplanetary Atmospheres

In astrobiology, we propose to adapt the GEANT4 Monte Carlo package, developed by CERN, to simulate the effects of the stellar radiation fields on exoplanet atmospheres, and explore the possibility of DNA-based biosignatures and lifeforms. Stellar spectral profiles from cool dwarfs will be subject to quasi-monochromatic intensity modulations by the chemical constituents of exoplanetary atmospheres, represented as phantoms using Earth-like compositions as well as those observed and theorized for exoplanets. We will consider radiation penetration in the atmosphere using available molecular opacities of prime atmospheric constituents such as H2O and CO2, and study biophysical effects on DNA survival and strand breaking at varying elevations.