Destruction of CO ice and formation of new molecules by irradiation with 28 keV O6+ ions

The effect of solar wind on cometary ice was studied by using oxygen ions with energy near to that corresponding to their maximum abundance in space for bombarding CO ice. This gas was condensed on a CsI substrate at 14 K and irradiated by 28 keV 18O6+ ions up to a final fluence of 1.3 × 1016 cm−2. We have used a methodology in which the sputtering yields, the destruction rate of CO, and the rate of formation of new molecular species are determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In the current experiment, the condensation of a thin water ice film has prevented the CO sputtering. Quantities such as the dissociation yield, Yd (the number of ice molecules destroyed or dissociated per projectile impact), and the formation yield, Yf (the number of daughter molecules of a given species formed per projectile) are found to be more appropriate and useful than using an integrated or average cross section, since the projectiles are slowing down in the ice from their initial energy until zero velocity (implantation).

Research highlights
► Laboratory simulation of CO ice exposed to solar wind.
► Molecular destruction and formation yields measured for 28 keV oxygen beams.
► Formation of new molecular species like C5O2 observed.