Classical dynamics study of the ion bombardment of ice

Donald W. Brenner, Barbara J. Garrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

A classical dynamics model is used to simulate the bombardment of H2O ice by O+ ions at energies between 23 and 115 eV. These energies are appropriate to describe the erosion processes occurring on the inner moons of Saturn. The total erosion yields vary between 0.83 and 2.28 H2O equivalents per incident ion in the energy range investigated. The majority of the ejected material is intact H2O molecules which have very little internal energy. Clusters of the type (H2O)n are observed in the calculations. Clusters of the form (H2O)nH+, however, are not observed. This is consistent with experimental results of others on cluster and fragment formation. Predictions made by a collision-cascade model for the absolute erosion rates of ejected species are shown to be inappropriate for these low impact energies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5782-5787
Number of pages6
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume34
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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