Skating on thin ice: surface chemistry under interstellar conditions

Fraser, H.; van Dishoeck, E. and Tielens, X. (2002). Skating on thin ice: surface chemistry under interstellar conditions. In: 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 10-19 Oct 2002, Houston, TX.

URL: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002cosp...34E2428F

Abstract

Solid CO₂ has been observed towards both active star forming regions and quiescent clouds (Gerakines et. al. (1999)). The high abundance of CO₂ in the solid phase, and its low abundance in the gas phase, support the idea that CO₂ is almost exclusively formed in the solid state. Several possible formation mechanisms have been postulated (Ruffle & Herbst (2001): Charnley & Kaufman (2000)), and the detection of CO₂ towards quiescent sources such as Elias 16 (Whittet et. al. (1998)) clearly suggests that CO₂ can be produced in the absence of UV or electron mediated processes. The most likely route is via the surface reactions between O atoms, or OH radicals, and CO. The tools of modern surface- science offer us the potential to determine many of the physical and chemical attributes of icy interstellar grain mantles under highly controlled conditions, that closely mimic interstellar environments. The Leiden Surface Reaction Simulation Device (Surfreside) combines UHV (UltraS High Vacuum) surface science techniques with an atomic beam to study chemical reactions occurring on the SURFACE and in the BULK of interstellar ice grain mimics. By simultaneously combining two or more surface analysis techniques, the chemical kinetics, reaction mechanisms and activation energies can be determined directly. The experiment is aimed at identifying the key barrierless reactions and desorption pathways on and in H₂O and CO ices under interstellar conditions. The results from traditional HV (high vacuum) and UHV studies of the CO + O and CO + OH reactions will be presented in this paper.

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