STUDIES OF PROTON IRRADIATED H2O+CO2 AND H2O+CO ICES AND ANALYSIS OF SYNTHESIZED MOLECULES

Infrared spectra of H2O+CO2 and H2O+CO ices before and after proton irradiation showed that a major reaction in both mixtures was the interconversion of CO2 half-arrow-right-over-half-arrow-left CO. Radiation synthesized organic compounds such as carbonic acid were identified in the H2O+CO2 ice. Different chemical pathways dominate in the H2O+CO ice in which formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol, and methane were identified. Sublimed material was also analyzed using a mass spectrometer. Implications of these results are discussed in reference to comets.