Thio residue from thermal processing of cometary ices containing carbon disulfide and ammonia

We have carried out experimental investigation on binary ice mixture containing carbon disulfide (CS2) and ammonia (NH3) ices formed at 10 K. Icy films were formed in various combinations to investigate the reactivity of CS2 and NH3 molecules on cometary nucleus. In the case of NH3 ices, deposition carried out at 10 K was found to contain NH3 homo-dimers that was found to reorient upon annealing to 40 K. Phase transition was found to take place as the 10 K ice was warmed to higher temperatures and the phase transition temperature was found to be 5 K higher for the mixed ice in comparison to the layered deposits. Thermal processing of the mixed deposition of CS2NH3 ice was found to leave thio residue, which could be ammonium dithiocarbamate that was even found to be present at 340 K.