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Desorption of hot molecules from photon irradiated interstellar ices

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posted on 2023-06-08, 17:19 authored by J D Thrower, D J Burke, M P Collings, A Dawes, P D Holtom, F Jamme, P Kendall, Wendy BrownWendy Brown, I P Clark, H J Fraser, M R S McCoustra, N J Mason, A W Parker
We present experimental measurements of photodesorption from ices of astrophysical relevance. Layers of benzene and water ice were irradiated with a laser tuned to an electronic transition in the benzene molecule. The translational energy of desorbed molecules was measured by time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry. Three distinct photodesorption processes were identified: a direct adsorbate-mediated desorption producing benzene molecules with a translational temperature of around 1200 K, an indirect adsorbate-mediated desorption resulting in water molecules with a translational temperature of around 450 K, and a substrate-mediated desorption of both benzene and water producing molecules with translational temperatures of around 530 and 450 K, respectively. The translational temperature of each population of desorbed molecules is well above the temperature of the ice matrix. The implications for gas-phase chemistry in the interstellar medium are discussed.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Astrophysical Journal

ISSN

0004-637X

Publisher

Institute of Physics

Issue

2

Volume

673

Page range

1233 - 1239

Department affiliated with

  • Chemistry Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-07-22

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-07-22

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-07-22

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