The interactions of high-energy radiation with matter produces large numbers of low-energy secondary electrons, which are thought to initiate radiolysis reactions in the condensed phase.  Using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), we have investigated the radiolysis products formed by low-energy (=20eV) electron-induced reactions in condensed methanol (CH3OH) under ultrahigh (2�10-10) vacuum conditions.  In contrast to temperature programmed desorption (TPD), a post-irradiation technique we have used previously, IRAS does not require thermal processing prior to product detection.  Our goal is to simulate processes which occur when high-energy cosmic rays interact with interstellar ices, where methanol, a precursor of several prebiotic species, is abundant. Using IRAS we find compelling evidence for the formation of ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) following low-energy electron irradiation of condensed methanol at 100 K.  The results of experiments such as ours may provide a fundamental understanding of how complex molecules are synthesized in the interstellar medium.

Methanol radiolysis of astrochemical interest

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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