Deep inside dense molecular clouds and protostellar disks, interstellar ices are protected from stellar energetic UV photons. However, X-rays and energetic cosmic rays can penetrate inside these regions triggering chemical reactions, molecular dissociation, and evaporation processes. We present experimental studies of the interaction of heavy, highly charged, and energetic ions (46 MeV 58 Ni 13+ ) with ammonia-containing ices H 2 O:NH 3 (1:0.5) and H 2 O:NH 3 :CO (1:0.6:0.4) in an attempt to simulate the physical chemistry induced by heavy-ion cosmic rays inside dense astrophysical environments. The measurements were performed inside a high vacuum chamber coupled to the IRRSUD (IR radiation SUD) beamline at the heavy-ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds) in Caen, France. The gas samples were deposited onto a polished CsI substrate previously cooled to 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) at different fluences. The average values of the dissociation cross-section of water, ammonia, and carbon monoxide due to heavy-ion cosmic ray analogs are ∼2 × 10 −13 , 1.4 × 10 −13 , and 1.9 × 10 −13 cm 2 , respectively. In the presence of a typical heavy cosmic ray field, the estimated half life of the studied species is 2-3 × 10 6 years. The ice compaction (micropore collapse) produced by heavy cosmic rays seems to be at least 3 orders of magnitude higher than that produced by (0.8 MeV) protons. The infrared spectra of the irradiated ice samples exhibit lines of several new species including HNCO, N 2 O, OCN − , and NH + 4 . In the case of the irradiated H 2 O:NH 3 :CO ice, the infrared spectrum at room temperature contains five bands that are tentatively assigned to vibration modes of the zwitterionic glycine (NH + 3 CH 2 COO − ).

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An experimental study of the interaction of heavy, highly charged, and energetic ions (52 MeV 58 Ni 13+ ) with pure H 2 O, pure CO 2 and mixed H 2 O:CO 2 astrophysical ice analogs is presented. This analysis aims to simulate the chemical and the physicochemical interactions induced by heavy cosmic rays inside dense and cold astrophysical environments, such as molecular clouds or protostellar clouds. The measurements were performed at the heavy ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds in Caen, France). The gas samples were deposited onto a CsI substrate at 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer at different fluences. Radiolysis yields of the produced species were quantified. The dissociation cross sections of pure H 2 O and CO 2 ices are 1.1 and 1.9 ×10 −13 cm 2 , respectively. For mixed H 2 O:CO 2 (10:1), the dissociation cross sections of both species are about 1 × 10 −13 cm 2 . The measured sputtering yield of pure CO 2 ice is 2.2 × 10 4 molec ion −1 . After a fluence of 2−3 × 10 12 ions cm −2 , the CO 2 /CO ratio becomes roughly constant (∼0.1), independent of the initial CO 2 /H 2 O ratio. A similar behavior is observed for the H 2 O 2 /H 2 O ratio, which stabilizes at 0.01, independent of the initial H 2 O column density or relative abundance.

Context. Cosmic ray ion irradiation affects the chemical composition of and triggers physical changes in interstellar ice mantles in space. One of the primary structural changes induced is the loss of porosity, and the mantles evolve toward a more compact amorphous state. Previously, ice compaction was monitored at low to moderate ion energies. The existence of a compaction threshold in stopping power has been suggested. Aims. In this article we experimentally study the effect of heavy ion irradiation at energies closer to true cosmic rays. This minimises extrapolation and allows a regime where electronic interaction always dominates to be explored, providing the ice compaction cross section over a wide range of electronic stopping power. Methods. High-energy ion irradiations provided by the GANIL accelerator, from the MeV up to the GeV range, are combined with in-situ infrared spectroscopy monitoring of ice mantles. We follow the IR spectral evolution of the ice as a function of increasing fluence (induced compaction of the initial microporous amorphous ice into a more compact amorphous phase). We use the number of OH dangling bonds of the water molecule, i.e. pending OH bonds not engaged in a hydrogen bond in the initially porous ice structure as a probe of the phase transition. These high-energy experiments are combined with lower energy experiments using light ions (H, He) from other facilities in Catania, Italy, and Washington, USA. Results. We evaluated the cross section for the disappearance of OH dangling bonds as a function of electronic stopping power. A cross-section law in a large energy range that includes data from different ice deposition setups is established. The relevant phase structuring time scale for the ice network is compared to interstellar chemical time scales using an astrophysical model. Conclusions. The presence of a threshold in compaction at low stopping power suggested in some previous works seems not to be confirmed for the high-energy cosmic rays encountered in interstellar space. Ice mantle porosity or pending bonds monitored by the OH dangling bonds is removed efficiently by cosmic rays. As a consequence, this considerably reduces the specific surface area available for surface chemical reactions.

Context. Ices present in different astrophysical environments are exposed to ion irradiation from cosmic rays (H to heavier than Fe) in the keV to GeV energy range. Aims. The objective of this work is to study the effects produced in astrophysical ices by heavy ions at relatively high energies (MeV) in the electronic energy loss regime and compare them with those produced by protons. Methods. C 18 O 2 was condensed on a CsI substrate at 13 K and it was irradiated by 46 MeV 58 Ni 11+ up to a final fluence of 1.5 × 10 13 cm −2 at a flux of 2 × 10 9 cm −2 s −1 . The ice was analyzed in situ by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the 5000−600 cm −1 range. Results. The CO 2 destruction was observed, as well as the formation of other species such as CO, CO 3 , O 3 , and C 3 . The destruction cross section of CO 2 is found to be 1.7 × 10 −13 cm 2 , while those for the formation of CO, CO 3 , and O 3 molecules are 1.6 × 10 −13 cm 2 , 4.5 × 10 −14 cm 2 , and 1.5 × 10 −14 cm 2 , respectively. The sputtering yield of the CO 2 ice is 4.0 × 10 4 molecules/impact, four orders of magnitude higher than for H projectiles at the same velocity. This allows us to estimate the contribution of the sputtering by heavy ions as compared to protons in the solar winds and in cosmic rays.Conclusions. The present results show that heavy ions play an important role in the sputtering of astrophysical ices. Furthermore, this work confirms the quadratic stopping power dependence of sputtering yields.