Mid-IR and VUV spectroscopic characterisation of thermally processed and electron irradiated CO2 astrophysical ice analogues

Mifsud, Duncan V., Kaňuchová, Z., Ioppolo, S., Herczku, P., Traspas Muiña, A., Field, T.A., Hailey, Perry A., Juhász, Z., Kovács, S.T.S., Mason, N.J., and others. (2022) Mid-IR and VUV spectroscopic characterisation of thermally processed and electron irradiated CO2 astrophysical ice analogues. Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, 385 . Article Number 111599. ISSN 0022-2852. (doi:10.1016/j.jms.2022.111599) (KAR id:93653)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jms.2022.111599

Abstract

The astrochemistry of CO2 ice analogues has been a topic of intensive investigation due to the prevalence of CO2 throughout the interstellar medium and the Solar System, as well as the possibility of it acting as a carbon feedstock for the synthesis of larger, more complex organic molecules. In order to accurately discern the physico-chemical processes in which CO2 plays a role, it is necessary to have laboratory-generated spectra to compare against observational data acquired by ground- and space-based telescopes. A key factor which is known to influence the appearance of such spectra is temperature, especially when the spectra are acquired in the infrared and ultraviolet. In this present study, we describe the results of a systematic investigation looking into: (i) the influence of thermal annealing on the mid-IR and VUV absorption spectra of pure, unirradiated CO2 astrophysical ice analogues prepared at various temperatures, and (ii) the influence of temperature on the chemical products of electron irradiation of similar ices. Our results indicate that both mid-IR and VUV spectra of pure CO2 ices are sensitive to the structural and chemical changes induced by thermal annealing. Furthermore, using mid-IR spectroscopy, we have successfully identified the production of radiolytic daughter molecules as a result of 1 keV electron irradiation and the influence of temperature over this chemistry. Such results are directly applicable to studies on the chemistry of interstellar ices, comets, and icy lunar objects and may also be useful as reference data for forthcoming observational missions.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1016/j.jms.2022.111599
Uncontrolled keywords:	astrochemistry; mid-IR spectroscopy; VUV spectroscopy; electroninduced chemistry; synchrotron radiation
Subjects:	Q Science Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User:	Duncan Mifsud
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2022 15:29 UTC
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2023 00:00 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93653 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Mifsud, Duncan V..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0379-354X
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Hailey, Perry A..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8121-9674
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Mason, N.J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4468-8324
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

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