Ultraviolet and infrared spectra of electron-bombarded solid nitrogen and methane diluted in solid nitrogen

Abstract

The infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra of pure solid N2 and CH4 diluted in solid N2 (1/100) irradiated with energetic electrons at 10 K were obtained. The IR absorption measurements of the electron-bombarded pure N2 solid reveal the formation of N3 and N3+, which was confirmed by the observed electronic transitions A 2Σu+← X 2Πg of N3 and A 3Πu ← X 3Σg- of N3+. In the case of N2 ice containing a small proportion of CH4, we have identified the products of irradiated CH4/N2 ice, including N3, C n N (n = 1-3), CN2, (CN)2, CH3N, HCN2, HC2N, C(NH)2, HNC, HCN, CH3, C2H, C2H2, CN-, NH3+, and HC3N+. UV absorption measurement of the ice sample was carried out and the possible carriers associated with the observed absorption bands were assigned and discussed. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.