Open AccessUsing laboratory studies of CO–H 2 O ices to understand the non‐detection of a 2152 cm −1 (4.647 μ m) band in the spectra of interstellar ices
Author(s) -
Fraser Helen J.,
Collings Mark P.,
Dever John W.,
McCoustra Martin R. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08038.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , monolayer , interstellar medium , dangling bond , adsorption , astrochemistry , spectral line , interstellar cloud , molecule , astronomy , nanotechnology , chemistry , hydrogen , materials science , quantum mechanics , galaxy
We present results from laboratory experiments on layered CO–H 2 O‐ice systems, carried out from sub‐monolayer to multilayer CO coverages, and review recent experimental data, as published by the authors. Under certain specific laboratory conditions the 2152 cm −1 feature, associated with CO molecules adsorbed at dangling‐OH bonds at the ice surface, is ‘missing’. A detailed analysis is used to understand why the same feature is not detected in spectra of interstellar ices. We conclude that the dangling‐OH sites do exist in interstellar ices but that the sites are blocked by another species. The astronomical implications of this deduction are discussed.