Open AccessChemical schemes for surface modification of icy satellites: A road map
Author(s) -
Delitsky Mona L.,
Lane Arthur L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/97je01250
Subject(s) - jupiter (rocket family) , galilean moons , astrobiology , galileo (satellite navigation) , plasma , ion , spacecraft , physics , icy moon , yield (engineering) , irradiation , earth (classical element) , planet , astrophysics , geology , astronomy , natural satellite , solar system , remote sensing , saturn , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , nuclear physics
The icy Galilean satellites of Jupiter are subject to magnetospheric plasma ion bombardment, which induces chemical changes within the ice. The possible detection of CO 2 on the surface of Ganymede by the Galileo spacecraft makes for a more complicated chemistry and increases the number of chemical compounds that may then be present. We outline chemical schemes for the irradiation of pure and mixed ices H 2 O/CO 2 and suggest species which observers may detect on Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, such as C 3 O 2 , H 2 CO 3 , H 2 O 2 , CO 3 , HO 2 , CO, H 2 CO, CH 2 CO, as well as K 2 O, KOH, and SO 3 , from plasma implantation. Column abundances of compounds in the ice are calculated using a specified energy input and G values (yield per 100 eV).