Studies of dust analogs formed from hydrocarbon
(CH4,
C2H2,
C2H4,
C2H6) and PAH precursors have
been performed using a new facility that we have developed to simulate interstellar and
circumstellar processes. The species formed in a plasma are detected, characterized and
monitored in situ with high-sensitivity techniques, which provide both
spectroscopic and ion mass information. From these measurements we derive information on
the nature, the size and the structure of dust particles, as well as a better
understanding of the growth and destruction processes of extraterrestrial dust.