Berlin 2001 – scientific programme

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MO: Molekülphysik

MO 12: Posters Friday: Spectroscopy

MO 12.23: Poster

Friday, April 6, 2001, 12:30–15:00, AT3

Laboratory Studies of Electron and Photon Molecular Synthesis within Icy Mantles — •Anita Das, Petra Tegeder, and Nigel Mason — University College London, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

A prototype apparatus is being constructed to investigate electron and photon induced molecular synthesis both on interstellar grains and stratospheric ice aerosol particles. Theories and experiments have shown that complex organic molecules in the interstellar clouds form in the condensed phase from radicals created by UV photolysis. We wish to continue these studies using novel experimental techniques. The ice mantle will be formed by gas condensation onto a cold transmitting surface, which will then be irradiated either by a UV lamp or a synchrotron radiation source, or subjected to electron bombardment. The products will be probed using FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy or photoabsorption experiments at the Daresbury Synchrotron Facility, UK. Trial experiments will include irradiation of adsorbed O₂ upon water ice to produce O₃ and more complex ice mixtures will be used in later investigations to synthesise organic molecules.
References:
1. P. A. Gerakines, W. A. Schutte, J. M. Greenberg, E. F. van Dishoeck, A&A 296 (1995), 810.
2. W. H. Sorrell, Comments on Astrophysics, Comments on Modern Physics, 1 (1999), 9.
3. W. Hagen, L.J.Allamandolla, J.M. Greenberg, Ap&SS 65 (1979), 215.