PHOTODESORPTION OF SOLID CO{sub 2} BY LY{alpha}
- Laboratory for Atomic and Surface Physics, University of Virginia, Thornton Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22904 (United States)
We measured desorption of atoms and molecules from films of solid carbon dioxide in an ultrahigh vacuum from 6 to 60 K under irradiation with Ly{alpha} (121.6 nm, 10.2 eV) photons, an important process in the balance between gas phase and condensed molecules in the interstellar medium. The measurements use microgravimetry and mass spectrometry during irradiation and temperature programmed desorption after irradiation. At low photon fluences, the desorption flux consists mainly of O atoms and, after {approx}10{sup 17} photons cm{sup -2}, it is dominated by CO with smaller amount of O{sub 2}, C, and CO{sub 2}, with the presence of O{sub 2} indicating solid-state chemical reactions. At high fluences (up to 10{sup 18} photons cm{sup -2}){sub ,} the desorption yields saturate at values much higher than in previous studies. The yields (molecules/photon), derived assuming stoichiometric desorption, reach 0.014 at 6 K, growing to {approx}0.2 at 50 and 60 K. Warming the films during irradiation gives rise to pressure spikes that suggest desorption of trapped species in pores or at defects, possibly assisted by radical-induced reactions. Such an effect could be significant for radiation-processed CO{sub 2}-coated interstellar grains that are heated by, i.e., cosmic ray impacts or grain-grain collisions. We discuss the experiments considering photochemical mechanisms and compare them to the results of ion irradiation.
- OSTI ID:
- 22143625
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 761, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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