Organic solids produced from simple C/H/O/N ices by charged particles: applications to the outer solar system

CH4, CO, and CO2 are all potential one-carbon molecular repositories in primitive icy objects. These molecules are all found in the Comet Halley coma, and are probable but, (except for CH4 detected on Triton and Pluto) undetected subsurface constituents in icy outer solar system objects. We have investigated the effects of charged particle irradiation by cold plasma discharge upon surfaces of H2O:CH4 clathrate having a 200:1 ratio, as well as upon ices composed of H2O plus C2H6 or C2H2 (sometimes plus NH3) which are also plausible constituents. These materials color and darken noticeably after a dose 10(9) - 10(10) erg cm-2, which is deposited rapidly (< or = 10(4) yr.) in solar system environments. The chromophore is a yellowish to tan organic material (a tholin) which we have studied by UV-VIS reflection and transmission, and IR transmission spectroscopy. Its yield, -1 C keV-1, implies substantial production of organic solids by the action of cosmic rays and radionuclides in cometary crusts and interiors, as well as rapid production in satellite surfaces. This material shows alkane bands which Chyba and Sagan have shown to well match the Halley infrared emission spectrum near 3.4 microns, and also bands due to aldehyde, alcohol and perhaps alkene/aromatic functional groups. We compare the IR spectral properties of these tholins with the spectra of others produced by irradiation of gases and ices containing simple hydrocarbons.