Nanometre- to micrometre-sized solid dust particles play a vital role in star
and planet formations. Despite of their importance, however, our understanding
of physical and chemical properties of dust particles is still provisional. We
have conducted a condensation experiment of the vapour generated from a solid
starting material having nearly cosmic proportions in elements. A laser flash
heating and subsequent cooling has produced a diverse type of nanoparticles
simultaneously. Here we introduce four types of nanoparticles as potential dust
particles in space: amorphous silicate nanoparticles (type S); core/mantle
nanoparticles with iron or hydrogenised-iron core and amorphous silicate mantle
(type IS); silicon oxycarbide nanoparticles and hydrogenised silicon oxycarbide
nanoparticles (type SiOC); and carbon nanoparticles (type C), all produced in a
single heating-cooling event. Type IS and SiOC nanoparticles are new for
potential astrophysical dust. The nanoparticles are aggregated to a wide
variety of structures, from compact, fluffy, and networked. A simultaneous
formation of nanoparticles, which are diverse in chemistry, shape, and
structure, prompts a re-evaluation of astrophysical dust particlesComment: 9 pages, 3 figure