Volatile molecules in interstellar grain mantles: Diffusion and infrared band strength

Publication

Reference: Schmitt B., Grim R. J. A., Greenberg J. M. (1988). Volatile molecules in interstellar grain mantles: Diffusion and infrared band strength. Proc. Dust in the Universe, 291 - 296.

Names

Title: Volatile molecules in interstellar grain mantles: Diffusion and infrared band strength
Abstract: The trapping of volatile molecules in ice well above their sublimation temperature has been experimentally established. Results are summarized for diffusion of CO, CH4, CO2 and NH3 in water ice mixtures as a function of temperature and time. CO, CH4 and CO2 disappear completely from the solid in the 125-135 K temperature range. On the other hand, ammonia begins to leave the ice mixture only shortly before H2O molecules evaporate. First results on the temperature dependence of the infrared absorption band intensities of CO, CO2 and CH4 trapped in water-rich ice mixtures are also reported. The possible implications of these experimental data for the evolution of icy grain mantles and for the abundance determination of their constituents are discussed.
Keywords: spectroscopy, thermodynamics, band integrated intensity, mid-IR, thermal process, molecular solid, ice, CO, CO2, CH4, NH3, H2O, interstellar grains
Content: thermodynamic data, astrophysics

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Publications