BARC/PUB/2019/1315

 
 

Residue fromvacuumultraviolet irradiation of benzene ices: Insights into the physical structure of astrophysical dust

 
     
 
Author(s)

Rahul, K. K.; Shivakarthik, E.; Meka, J. K.; Rajasekhar, B. N.; and others
(A&MPD)

Source

Spectrochimica Acta-A, 2019. Vol. 231: Article no. 117797

ABSTRACT

We have irradiated benzene ices deposited at 4 K on a cold, interstellar dust analog with vacuum ultraviolet (9 eV) irradiation for periods lasting from several hours to nearly a day, after which the irradiated ice was warmed to room temperature. Vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectra of the aromatic residue left at room temperature were recorded and showed the synthesis of benzene derivatives. The residuewas also imaged using an electron microscope and revealed crystals of various sizes and shapes. The result of our experiments suggests such geometrically shaped dust particles may be a key component of interstellar dust.

 
 
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