Emission of large hydrocarbons from frozen ch4 by kev proton irradiation

ABSTRACT Ever since the first description of the synthesis of molecules by impinging protons on ices1, the possibility of formation of various molecules on cold surfaces by particle

radiation has been widely discussed2–5. Because fluxes of light ions with energies of ∼1 keV AMU−1 exist in a wide variety of astrophysical sites6 there has been a dispute over whether

molecules in space are formed by such a process or by gaseous reactions7. We have recently studied sputtering of species by bombarding simple frozen gases such as water, carbon monoxide and

ammonia with light ions2. With these substances, only rather simple molecules were found. However, when bombarding methane, we detected much larger molecules in the sputtered

beam—hydrocarbons containing up to at least 13 atoms. We propose, therefore, that bombardment of frozen methane by keV protons may produce large molecules in the Solar system. Access through

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(1980). ADS  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ, Amsterdam, The

Netherlands A. E. de Vries, R. A. Haring, A. Haring & F. W. Saris * Instytut Fizyki, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, PL 30-059, Krakow, Poland R. Pedrys Authors * A. E. de Vries View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R. Pedrys View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R. A. Haring View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * A. Haring View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * F. W. Saris

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Pedrys, R., Haring, R. _et al._ Emission of large hydrocarbons from frozen CH4 by keV proton irradiation. _Nature_ 311, 39–40 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311039a0 Download citation *

Received: 21 March 1984 * Accepted: 18 July 1984 * Issue Date: 06 September 1984 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311039a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be

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