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[57.01] IR Identification of Major Products in Laboratory Processed Ices Relevant to Triton and Pluto

M. H. Moore (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center), R. L. Hudson (Eckerd College), P A. Gerakines (UAB and NRC/NASA-GSFC)

Nitrogen (N₂), methane (CH₄), and carbon monoxide (CO) have all been identified in the IR spectrum of Pluto (Owen et al.,1993; Doute et al.,1999). The same ices are present on Triton along with separated terrains containing water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide(CO₂) (Quirico et al., 1999). We have identified the major products in UV-photolyzed and proton-irradiated pure ices of N₂, CH₄, and CO at T < 25 K using mid-IR spectroscopy. Processed ice mixtures of CH₄ or CO diluted in solid N₂ along with results from the ternary mixture N₂ + CH₄ + CO will be presented. A list of major products from UV-photolyzed compared with those of proton-irradiated ices will be discussed along with the thermal evolution of processed N₂ + CH₄ + CO ice.

Owen, T. C., et al., Science 261, 745; Doute, S. et al., 1999, Icarus 142, 421; Quirico, E. et al., 1999 Icarus 139, 159

This research is funded through NRA 344-33-01 and 344-02-57. RLH was supported through NASA grant NAG-5-1843 and PAG held a NAS-NRC/NASA-GSFC research associateship