The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics–Astrochemistry (ICA) is a new laboratory end station located at the Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki) in Debrecen, Hungary. The ICA has been specifically designed for the study of the physico-chemical properties of astrophysical ice analogs and their chemical evolution when subjected to ionizing radiation and thermal processing. The ICA is an ultra-high-vacuum compatible chamber containing a series of IR-transparent substrates mounted on a copper holder connected to a closed-cycle cryostat capable of being cooled down to 20 K, itself mounted on a 360° rotation stage and a z-linear manipulator. Ices are deposited onto the substrates via background deposition of dosed gases. The ice structure and chemical composition are monitored by means of FTIR absorbance spectroscopy in transmission mode, although the use of reflectance mode is possible by using metallic substrates. Pre-prepared ices may be processed in a variety of ways. A 2 MV Tandetron accelerator is capable of delivering a wide variety of high-energy ions into the ICA, which simulates ice processing by cosmic rays, solar wind, or magnetospheric ions. The ICA is also equipped with an electron gun that may be used for electron impact radiolysis of ices. Thermal processing of both deposited and processed ices may be monitored by means of both FTIR spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectrometry. In this paper, we provide a detailed description of the ICA setup as well as an overview of the preliminary results obtained and future plans.
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August 2021
Research Article|
August 09 2021
The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics–Astrochemistry (ICA): A new experimental facility for ion impact studies of astrophysical ice analogs
Péter Herczku
;
Péter Herczku
a)
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: herczku.peter@atomki.hu and duncanvmifsud@gmail.com
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Duncan V. Mifsud
;
Duncan V. Mifsud
a)
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
2
Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent
, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: herczku.peter@atomki.hu and duncanvmifsud@gmail.com
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Sergio Ioppolo
;
Sergio Ioppolo
3
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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Zoltán Juhász
;
Zoltán Juhász
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
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Zuzana Kaňuchová
;
Zuzana Kaňuchová
4
Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
, Tatranská Lomnica SK-059 60, Slovakia
5
INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma
, Monte Porzio Catone RM-00078, Italy
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Sándor T. S. Kovács
;
Sándor T. S. Kovács
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
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Alejandra Traspas Muiña
;
Alejandra Traspas Muiña
3
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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Perry A. Hailey
;
Perry A. Hailey
2
Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent
, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
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István Rajta
;
István Rajta
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
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István Vajda
;
István Vajda
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
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Nigel J. Mason
;
Nigel J. Mason
2
Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent
, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
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Robert W. McCullough
;
Robert W. McCullough
6
Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast
, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
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Béla Paripás
;
Béla Paripás
7
Department of Physics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Informatics, University of Miskolc
, Miskolc H-3515, Hungary
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Béla Sulik
Béla Sulik
1
Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki)
, PO Box 51, Debrecen H-4026, Hungary
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a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: herczku.peter@atomki.hu and duncanvmifsud@gmail.com
Rev. Sci. Instrum. 92, 084501 (2021)
Article history
Received:
March 20 2021
Accepted:
July 27 2021
Citation
Péter Herczku, Duncan V. Mifsud, Sergio Ioppolo, Zoltán Juhász, Zuzana Kaňuchová, Sándor T. S. Kovács, Alejandra Traspas Muiña, Perry A. Hailey, István Rajta, István Vajda, Nigel J. Mason, Robert W. McCullough, Béla Paripás, Béla Sulik; The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics–Astrochemistry (ICA): A new experimental facility for ion impact studies of astrophysical ice analogs. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 1 August 2021; 92 (8): 084501. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0050930
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