Laboratory Analysis Of Water, Hydrocarbon And Ammonia Ice Mixtures Exposed To High-energy Electron Irradiation

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Irradiation of low temperature ices in the laboratory provides insight into processes that may be occurring on icy bodies in the solar system. Here we report on results from high-energy (10keV) electron irradiation of thin ice films at 1e-8 torr and 70-120K. Mixtures include water with CO2, C3H8, C3H6, C4H10 (butane and isobutane), C4H8,(1-butene and cis/trans-2-butene), and NH3.
During irradiation of H2O + alkane films at 80K, CO2 and CH4 production is observed and both species are retained in the ice, possibly trapped in clathrates. The -CH3 infrared bands initially present are seen to decrease with increasing dose. Bands associated with -CH2- persist, indicating polymerization of the initial short-chain hydrocarbons. In alkenes a similar evolution toward polymerization is observed, however the first step appears to be the destruction of the C=C bond. Upon warming of the film, mass spectra data compliment the mid-infrared data and indicate the production of H2CO, however glycolic acid is not explicitly seen in the mass spectra. When warmed to 300K, residues remained for all irradiated films except that of the H2O + CO2 mixtures. Residues were analyzed with Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI). Results show the production of large aliphatic, very refractory, hydrocarbons (with m/z up to 2500). Mid-infrared spectra of the residues indicate carbonyls and alcohols, likely due to polymerized aldehydes and carboxylic acids.
Films of H2O + C3H8 + NH3 at 70K show the production of OCN- (cyanate ion), formamide, along with other possible amides and hydrocarbons. HPLC results indicate the production of racemic alanine.
Finally, results of abiotic experiments are compared to results from the irradiation of bacterial spores in ice. The application to Europa and Enceladus is discussed.

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