Physical state of ices in the outer solar system

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

21

Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Remote Sensing, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Surface Materials And Properties, Planetology: Comets And Small Bodies: Ice

Scientific paper

Comparison of the identity and abundances of ices observed around protostars and those associated with comets clearly suggests that comets preserve the heritage of the interstellar materials that aggregated to form them. However, the ability to identify these same species on icy satellites in the outer solar system is a complex function of the composition of the original ices, their subsequent thermal histories, and their exposure to various radiation environments. Our ability to identify the ices currently present on objects in the outer solar system relies upon observational and laboratory, and theoretical efforts. To date there is ample observational evidence for crystalline water ice throughout the outer solar system. In addition, there is growing evidence that amorphous ice may be present on some bodies. More volatile ices, e.g., N2, CH4, and CO, and other species, e.g., ammonia hydrate, are identified on objects lying at and beyond Uranus. Both photolysis and radiolysis play important roles in altering the original surfaces due to chemical reactions and erosion of the surface. Ultraviolet photolysis appears to dominate alteration of the upper few hundred angstroms, although sputtering of the surface can sometimes be a significantly competitive process, dominating on icy surfaces embedded in a strong planetary magnetospheric field. There is growing observational evidence that the by-products of photolysis and radiolysis, suggested on a theoretical basis, are present on icy surfaces.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Physical state of ices in the outer solar system 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 Physical state of ices in the outer solar system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Physical state of ices in the outer solar system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1105204

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.