A systematic mid-infrared spectroscopic study of thermally processed H2S ices

Duncan V Mifsud, Péter Herczku, Ragav Ramachandran, Pavithraa Sundararajan, K K Rahul, Sándor T S Kovács, Béla Sulik, Zoltán Juhász, Richárd Rácz, Sándor Biri, Zuzana Kaňuchová, Sergio Ioppolo, Bhalamurugan Sivaraman, Robert W McCullough, Nigel J Mason

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The positive identification of the molecular components of interstellar icy grain mantles is critically reliant upon the availability of laboratory-generated mid-infrared absorption spectra which can be compared against data acquired by ground- and space-borne telescopes. However, one molecule which remains thus far undetected in interstellar ices is H S, despite its important roles in astrochemical and geophysical processes. Such a lack of a detection is surprising, particularly in light of its relative abundance in cometary ices which are believed to be the most pristine remnants of pre-solar interstellar ices available for study. In this paper, we present the results of an extensive and quantitative mid-infrared spectroscopic characterisation of H S ices deposited at 20, 40, and 70 K and thermally processed to sublimation in an ultrahigh-vacuum system. We anticipate our results to be useful in confirming the detection of interstellar H S ice using high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments such as the James Webb Space Telescope, as well as in the identification of solid H S in icy environments in the outer Solar System, such as comets and moons.
Original languageEnglish
Article number124567
JournalSpectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
Volume319
Early online date31 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Sulphur chemistry
  • H(2)S ice
  • Infrared spectroscopy
  • Astrochemistry
  • Planetary science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A systematic mid-infrared spectroscopic study of thermally processed H2S ices'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this