SPUTTERING AND MOLECULAR SYNTHESIS INDUCED BY 100 keV PROTONS IN CONDENSED CO2AND RELEVANCE TO THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM

Abstract

We present results on sputtering and radiation chemistry of CO{sub 2} films induced by 100 keV H{sup +} at 25 and 50 K. Using a quartz crystal microbalance, we measure a sputtering yield (SY) between {approx}10 and 20 CO{sub 2} equivalent per ion at 25 K. The yield at 50 K is similar to that at 25 K at low fluences, but increases to {approx}2400 by mid-10{sup 14} H{sup +} cm{sup -2} and declines at higher fluence. Irradiation to 1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 15} H{sup +} cm{sup -2} depletes {approx}85%-90% of the initial film mass at 50 K, compared to 3% at 25 K. In both cases, mass spectrometry shows that CO is the dominant constituent in the sputtered flux, followed by O{sub 2}, O, and CO{sub 2}. Using infrared spectroscopy, we monitor the depletion of CO{sub 2} and the accumulation of CO and O{sub 2} and minor species as O{sub 3} and CO{sub 3}. We determine G(-CO{sub 2}) = 2.6 {+-} 0.3, the number of CO{sub 2} destroyed per 100 eV at 25 K. A significant fraction of the radiolyzed CO and O{sub 2} are retained in the film at 25 K; only those near the surface are removed duringmore » irradiation, contributing to a smaller SY. At 50 K, CO and O{sub 2} are unstable along the 'hot' ion track and are expelled possibly from the entire depth of the film. Our results, and the lack of detection of CO in the exospheres around Rhea and Dione, show that the CO{sub 2} does not originate from sputtering, since otherwise the exosphere would be dominated by CO, the main molecule in the sputtered flux. We suggest that the exospheric CO{sub 2} is thermally released from an endogenic source.« less