The desorption of CO ice induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a phenomenon that occurs in some cold parts of the universe, which has often also been replicated in laboratory settings. While this phenomenon is now well-documented, the molecular mechanisms underpinning it are yet to be fully uncovered.
“In the interstellar medium (ISM), molecular matter is mostly found in the coldest and densest regions,” Maurice Monnerville and Jean-Hugues Fillion, the leading authors of the paper, told Phys.org.
“These areas are stellar nurseries, where stars and planets come to life, like the inner parts of protoplanetary disks and pre-stellar clouds. About 200 different molecular species, ranging from simple ones, like hydrogen and water (H2, H2O, CO,…) to more complex ones like methanol (CH3OH) coexist with tiny grains made of silicates and carbons.”
In some of the coldest regions of the universe with extremely low temperatures of approximately 10 K, all molecules (except H2) stick on the surface of tiny grains, forming icy layers. These layers are primarily made up of condensed water and various other substances, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
“These interstellar ices act as a crucial reservoir of molecular matter in the cold regions of the universe,” the authors explained.
2024-01-11 23:00:04
Original from phys.org rnrn