Water Ice Formation and the o/p Ratio

Abstract

AbstractWater is observed in many astrophysical environments in both gas and solid phase. Water ice, for its specific properties, is probably the most important template that structures the gas-solid interaction. In cold environments, its synthesis is supposed to occur directly in the solid phase and then water acts as a catalytic matrix for subsequent synthesis of various molecules. When the medium begins to warm again, water sublimates and nourishes the gas phase, as occurs for example in comets or in star forming regions. Over the last four years, water formation on cold surfaces has been studied experimentally. Different precursors (O, O2, O3. . .) have been used to understand the complex mechanisms that take place. Although numerous questions remain unanswered, at present, it is clear that water is easily formed by different pathways, and that the ice formed has an amorphous structure. The recent observations of the ortho/para ratio of water with Herschel satellite have similarities with the previous o/p ratio observations of water in comets. Some experimental work have been recently reported in this domain, mostly rare gas matrix studies where nuclear spin conversion is measured even at 4.2 K. H2 molecules adsorbed on amorphous solid water ice also exhibit a nuclear spin conversion in presence of a tiny fraction of O2. Finally, I will discuss if microphysics properties of water desorption can explain the o/p ratio values observed.