Surface Science Investigations of Icy Mantle Growth on Interstellar Dust Grains in Cooling Environments

Abstract

Experimental measurements on the thermal and nonthermal behavior of water and other simple molecules, including organic compounds such as methanol and benzene, on model interstellar dust grain and solid water ice surfaces using science techniques and methodologies are reviewed. A simple qualitative model of the early stages of mantle growth arising from a synthesis of the results of such investigations from our own laboratory and others is presented.