S+ Implantation in Oxide Ices: Relevance to Europa

<p>The implantation of reactive charged species within low-temperature solids is relevant to astrochemistry and may lead to physico-chemical changes within the solid, such as the formation of new molecules which incorporate the projectile. We have performed the high-fluence (>10<sup>16</sup> ions cm<sup>–2</sup>) implantation of S<sup>+</sup> into CO, CO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O ices at 20 and 70 K. Our results show that implantation into CO and CO<sub>2</sub> results in the formation of SO<sub>2</sub> at 20 K, although no evidence of SO<sub>2</sub> was observed at 70 K. Implantation into H<sub>2</sub>O yields H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> hydrates. These results are applicable to Europa; one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter.</p>