Electron irradiation of carbon dioxide-carbon disulphide ice analog and its implication on the identification of carbon disulphide on Moon

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon disulphide (CS2) molecular ice mixture was prepared under low temperature (85 K) astrochemical conditions. The icy mixture irradiated with keV electrons simulates the irradiation environment experienced by icy satellites and Interstellar Icy Mantles (IIM). Upon electron irradiation the chemical composition was found to have altered and the new products from irradiation were found to be carbonyl sulphide (OCS), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon trioxide (CO3), sulphur trioxide (SO3), carbon subsulphide (C3 S 2) and carbon monoxide (CO). Results obtained confirm the presence of CS2 molecules in lunar south-pole probed by the Moon Impact Probe (MIP).