Search results for "ISM: molecules – methods: laboratory – X-rays: ISM"

Soft X-Ray Irradiation of Methanol Ice: Implication for H2CO Formation in Interstellar Regions

2010

We performed 0.3 keV soft X-ray irradiation of a methanol ice at 8 K under ultra-high vacuum conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that soft X-rays are used to study photolysis of ice analogs. Despite the low irradiation dose of 10{sup -6} photons molecule{sup -1}, the formation of formaldehyde has been observed. The results of our experiments suggest that X-rays may be a promising candidate to the formation of complex molecules in regions where UV radiation is severely inhibited.