Abstract

Sohan Jheeta

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/300201

In space there are two types of chemistry, namely solid phase and gas phase; in this paper the latter chemistry formed the basis of our experimentations. An experimental investigation of the irradiation of CO₂ ice at 30 K with low energy ions: H⁺ (1.5 keV), D⁺ (2.12 keV) and He⁺ (3 keV) was carried out under ultrahigh vacuum (10^-9 mbar) conditions. Molecular products formed within the ice were detected and monitored using FTIR spectroscopy. The formation of CO was observed: this CO subsequently led to the synthesis of O₃ and CO_3, as well as tentative amounts of H₂CO₃ and D₂CO₃, the latter being the result of the process of implantation; no signals, tentative or otherwise, were observed during the irradiation with He⁺ ions. The consequences of these results for prebiotic chemistry in the interstellar medium and star forming regions are discussed.

Circumstellar disk, interstellar medium, interstellar dust particles, icy mantles, solid phase chemistry, ice modification, ions, low energy cosmic rays, low energy ions, secondary electrons

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