Possible Evidence for Crystallization of Astrophysical Ice Analogs by Heavy and Energetic Cosmic Rays

Mathematics – Logic

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Scientific paper

We present an experimental study about the alteration of the 3300 cm-1 band (ν_1 vibration mode) in the infrared spectra of water-rich ices due to the bombardments with heavy, highly-charged, and energetic ions (15.7 MeV 16O5+; 46 MeV 58Ni13+). The experiments simulate the physical chemistry as well possible morphological changes induced by heavy-ion cosmic rays at water-rich astrophysical ices. The measurements were performed inside a high vacuum chamber at the heavy-ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds) in Caen, France. The experiments employed pure amorphous water ice and mixed H_2O:CO_2 amorphous ices at 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) at different ion fluences. After the ion bombardment the center of this water band is shifted to lower frequencies (longer wavelength).We suggest this behavior may be attributed to the destruction of small water clusters (n=2,3), as well the production of larger clusters (n>5), both as a result of energy delivered by the fast ions (and its secondary electrons) along the neighborhood of the ion tracks inside the ices. The vibration of individual small water clusters are representative for the left wing of the ν_1 band in water ice while larger individual clusters are important for the right wing (lower energy). An experiment employing H_2O:CO_2 ice at 80 K, showing a small crystallization degree, does not show changes in the water ν_1 profile during the ion bombardment. The results suggest that a small degree of crystallization may be achieved in the amorphous astrophysical ices after the extensive bombardment with heavy and energetic ions. This may give us some clues about the crystalline water features observed at some cold regions in the interstellar medium such as the ices around young stellar objects, and also at some frozen surfaces of outer solar system bodies. Both regions are highly exposed to galactic cosmic rays.

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