Theoretical and Laboratory Studies on the Interaction of Cosmic‐Ray Particles with Interstellar Ices. III. Suprathermal Chemistry–Induced Formation of Hydrocarbon Molecules in Solid Methane (CH4), Ethylene (C2H4), and Acetylene (C2H2)

Abstract

Methane, ethylene, and acetylene ices are irradiated in a ultra high vacuum vessel at 10 K with 9.0 MeV α-particles and 7.3 MeV protons to elucidate mechanisms to form hydrocarbon molecules upon interaction of Galactic cosmic-ray particles with extraterrestrial, organic ices. Theoretical calculations focus on computer simulations of ion-induced collision cascades in irradiated targets. Our experimental and computational investigations reveal that each MeV particle transfers its kinetic energy predominantly through inelastic encounters to the target leading to electronic excitation and ionization of the target molecules. Here electronically excited CH4 species can fragment to mobile H atoms and nonmobile CH3 radicals. The potential energy stored in Coulomb interaction of the CH+4 ions release energetic H and C atoms not in thermal equilibrium with the 10 K target (suprathermal species). Moderated to 1-10 eV kinetic energy, these carbon atoms and those triggered by the elastic energy transfer of the MeV projectile to the target are found to abstract up to two H atoms to yield suprathermal CH and CH2 species. C and CH, as well as CH2, can insert into a CH bond of a CH4 molecule to form methylcarbene (HCCH3), the ethyl radical (C2H5), and ethane (C2H6). HCCH3 either loses H2/2H to form acetylene, C2H2, rearranges to ethylene, C2H4, or adds two H atoms to form ethane, C2H6. C2H5 can abstract or lose an H atom, giving ethane and ethylene, respectively. C2H2 and C2H4 are found to react with suprathermal H atoms to form C2H3 and C2H5, respectively. Overlapping cascades and an increasing MeV ion exposure transforms C2Hx (x = 2, ..., 6) to even more complex alkanes up to C14H30. These elementary reactions of suprathermal species to insert, abstract, and add in/to bonds supply a powerful pathway to form new molecules in icy grain mantles condensed on interstellar grains or in hydrocarbon rich bodies in our solar system even at temperatures as low as 10 K.