Sulfur implantation in CO and CO2 ices

Abstract

We present new experimental results concerning the implantation of multiply charged sulfur ions (90 and 176 keV) in frozen CO and CO2. CO2 layers have been capped with a water ice layer to study chemical reactions induced at the interface between the two species. The results indicate that SO2 is formed after implantation in both CO and CO2 and the respective formation yields are 0.20 +/- 0.05 and 0.38 +/- 0.20 molecules ion(-1) for 176-keV S11+ in CO and 90-keV S9+ in CO2, respectively. Possibly, CS2 has been produced in CO2 and OCS in CO. Ion implantation produces also all of the chemical modifications observed with other ion beam. In particular a large number of carbon chains are formed after implantation in CO. Chemical reactions and mixing are induced at the water/carbon dioxide interface and lead to the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3). The results are discussed in the light of their relevance in some astrophysical environments both in the star-forming regions and in the Solar system.