A cryogenic ice setup to simulate carbon atom reactions in interstellar ices

Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 91, pp. 054501

Abstract

The design, implementation, and performance of a customized carbon atom beam source for the purpose of investigating solid-state reaction routes in interstellar ices in molecular clouds are discussed. The source is integrated into an existing ultrahigh vacuum setup, SURFace REaction SImulation DEvice (SURFRESIDE2), which extends this double atom (H/D, O, and N) beamline apparatus with a third atom (C) beamline to a unique system that is fully suited to explore complex organic molecule solid-state formation under representative interstellar cloud conditions. The parameter space for this system is discussed, which includes the flux of the carbon atoms hitting the ice sample, their temperature, and the potential impact of temperature on ice reactions. Much effort has been put into constraining the beam size to within the limits of the sample size with the aim of reducing carbon pollution inside the setup. How the C-atom beam performs is quantitatively studied through the example experiment, C + 18O2, and supported by computationally derived activation barriers. The potential for this source to study the solid-state formation of interstellar complex organic molecules through C-atom reactions is discussed.

Authors 9

1. D. Qasim corresponding Aachen Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University 1 , P.O. Box 9513, NL–2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. G. Fedoseev Aachen Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University 1 , P.O. Box 9513, NL–2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

3. K.-J. Chuang

   Max Planck Institute for Astronomy · Friedrich Schiller University Jena

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory Astrophysics Group of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Solid State Physics 3 , Helmholtzweg 3, D–07743 Jena, Germany

4. Tahamida Banu

   University of Stuttgart

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart 4 , D–70569 Stuttgart, Germany

5. Serge A. Krasnokutski

   Max Planck Institute for Astronomy · Friedrich Schiller University Jena

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory Astrophysics Group of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Solid State Physics 3 , Helmholtzweg 3, D–07743 Jena, Germany

6. S. Ioppolo

   Queen Mary University of London

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London 5 , Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom

7. Johannes Kästner

   University of Stuttgart

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart 4 , D–70569 Stuttgart, Germany

8. Ewine F. van Dishoeck Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University 6 , P.O. Box 9513, NL–2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

9. H. Linnartz Aachen Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University 1 , P.O. Box 9513, NL–2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands