UV photoprocessing of CO2 ice: a complete quantification of photochemistry and photon-induced desorption processes

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive quantitative analysis of UV-induced photochemistry and desorption in CO2 ice analogs, combining infrared and mass spectrometry data to better understand molecular processes in astrophysical ice mantles.

Contribution

It introduces a complete quantification method for photodesorption and photochemistry in CO2 ice, integrating FTIR and calibrated QMS measurements under astrophysical conditions.

Findings

Photodesorption yields for CO, O2, and CO2 quantified.

Photon-induced chemical reactions produce CO, CO3, O2, and O3.

Calibration improves accuracy of desorption measurements.

Abstract

Ice mantles that formed on top of dust grains are photoprocessed by the secondary ultraviolet (UV) field in cold and dense molecular clouds. UV photons induce photochemistry and desorption of ice molecules. Experimental simulations dedicated to ice analogs under astrophysically relevant conditions are needed to understand these processes. We present UV-irradiation experiments of a pure CO2 ice analog. Calibration of the QMS allowed us to quantify the photodesorption of molecules to the gas phase. This information was added to the data provided by the FTIR on the solid phase to obtain a complete quantitative study of the UV photoprocessing of an ice analog. Experimental simulations were performed in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. Ice samples were deposited onto an infrared transparent window at 8K and were subsequently irradiated with a microwave-discharged hydrogen flow lamp. After irradiation, ice samples were warmed up until complete sublimation was attained. Photolysis of CO2 molecules initiates a network of photon-induced chemical reactions leading to the formation of CO, CO3 ,O2 , and O3 . During irradiation, photon-induced desorption of CO and, to a lesser extent, O2 and CO2 took place through a process called indirect desorption induced by electronic transitions (DIET), with maximum photodesorption yields (Ypd) of 1.2 x 10-2 molecules/incident photon , 9.3 x 10-4 molecules/incident photon , and 1.1 x 10-4 molecules/incident photon , respectively. Calibration of mass spectrometers allows a direct quantification of photodesorption yields instead of the indirect values that were obtained from infrared spectra in most previous works. Supplementary information provided by infrared spectroscopy leads to a complete quantification, and therefore a better understanding, of the processes taking place in UV-irradiated ice mantles.