Low-temperature secondary emission mass spectrometric investigations of a condensed-phase environment of biologically significant compounds

Abstract

The main features of the secondary emission mass spectrometry probing of condensed systems containing compounds of biological significance at low temperatures are summarized. The possibilities of distinguishing mass spectra of the solid and liquid phases of simple organic compounds and water as the medium for bio-molecules, monitoring of phase transitions and nonequilibrium processes are illustrated. The peculiarities of a model of sputtering of metastable liquids are described. On the basis of the evaluation of these findings, an idea concerning the probable source of relatively large clusters of organic molecules and ions emerging on sputtering of the liquid phase of organic matter condensed on dust grains in space is proposed and discussed.