Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-05-16
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
23 pages, including 4 figures; submitted to ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/524097
We present experimental measurements of photodesorption from ices of astrophysical relevance. Layers of benzene and water ice were irradiated with a laser tuned to an electronic transition in the benzene molecule. The translational energy of desorbed molecules was measured by time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry. Three distinct photodesorption processes were identified - a direct adsorbate-mediated desorption producing benzene molecules with a translational temperature of around 1200 K, an indirect adsorbate-mediated desorption resulting in water molecules with a translational temperature of around 450 K, and a substrate-mediated desorption of both benzene and water producing molecules with translational temperatures of around 530 K and 450 K respectively. The translational temperature of each population of desorbed molecules is well above the temperature of the ice matrix. The implications for gas-phase chemistry in the interstellar medium are discussed.
Brown Aaron W.
Burke Daren J.
Clark I. P.
Collings Mark P.
Dawes Anita
No associations
LandOfFree
Desorption of hot molecules from photon irradiated interstellar ices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Desorption of hot molecules from photon irradiated interstellar ices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Desorption of hot molecules from photon irradiated interstellar ices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-670515