X-Ray induced desorption and photochemistry in CO ice.

We report an investigation of X-ray induced desorption of neutrals, cations and anions from CO ice. The desorption of neutral CO, by far the most abundant, is quantified and discussed within the context of its application to astrochemistry. The desorption of many different cations, including large cations up to the mass limit of the spectrometer, is observed. In contrast, the only desorbing anions detected are O- and C-. The desorption mechanisms of all these species are discussed with the aid of their photodesorption spectrum. The evolution of the X-ray absorption spectrum shows significant chemical modifications of the ice upon irradiation, which along with the desorption of large cations gives a new insight into X-ray induced photochemistry in CO ice.

Mechanism of Indirect Photon-Induced Desorption at the Water Ice Surface.

Electronic excitations near the surface of water ice lead to the desorption of adsorbed molecules, through a so far debated mechanism. A systematic study of photon-induced indirect desorption, revealed by the spectral dependence of the desorption (7-13 eV), is conducted for Ar, Kr, N_{2}, and CO adsorbed on H_{2}O or D_{2}O amorphous ices. The mass and isotopic dependence and the increase of intrinsic desorption efficiency with photon energy all point to a mechanism of desorption induced by collisions between adsorbates and energetic H/D atoms, produced by photodissociation of water. This constitutes a direct and unambiguous experimental demonstration of the mechanism of indirect desorption of weakly adsorbed species on water ice, and sheds new light on the possibility of this mechanism in other systems. It also has implications for the description of photon-induced desorption in astrochemical models.

Desorption of neutrals, cations, and anions from core-excited amorphous solid water.

Core-excitation of water ice releases many different molecules and ions in the gas phase. Studying these desorbed species and the underlying desorption mechanisms can provide useful information on the effects of x-ray irradiation in ice. We report a detailed study of the x-ray induced desorption of a number of neutral, cationic, and anionic species from amorphous solid water. We discuss the desorption mechanisms and the relative contributions of Auger and secondary electrons (x-ray induced electron stimulated desorption) and initial excitation (direct desorption) as well as the role of photochemistry. Anions are shown to desorb not just through processes linked with secondary electrons but also through direct dissociation of the core-excited molecule. The desorption spectra of oxygen ions (O+, OH+, H2O+, O-, and OH-) give a new perspective on their previously reported very low desorption yields for most types of irradiations of water, showing that they mostly originate from the dissociation of photoproducts such as H2O2.

Potential Remedies for the High Synchrotron-Radiation-Induced Heat Load for Future Highest-Energy-Proton Circular Colliders.

We propose a new method for handling the high synchrotron radiation (SR) induced heat load of future circular hadron colliders (like FCC-hh). FCC-hh are dominated by the production of SR, which causes a significant heat load on the accelerator walls. Removal of such a heat load in the cold part of the machine, as done in the Large Hadron Collider, will require more than 100 MW of electrical power and a major cooling system. We studied a totally different approach, identifying an accelerator beam screen whose illuminated surface is able to forward reflect most of the photons impinging onto it. Such a reflecting beam screen will transport a significant part of this heat load outside the cold dipoles. Then, in room temperature sections, it could be more efficiently dissipated. Here we will analyze the proposed solution and address its full compatibility with all other aspects an accelerator beam screen must fulfill to keep under control beam instabilities as caused by electron cloud formation, impedance, dynamic vacuum issues, etc. If experimentally fully validated, a highly reflecting beam screen surface will provide a viable and solid solution to be eligible as a baseline design in FCC-hh projects to come, rendering them more cost effective and sustainable.

Nature of the decrease of the secondary-electron yield by electron bombardment and its energy dependence.

We performed a combined secondary electron yield (SEY) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study as a function of the electron dose and energy on a Cu technical surface representative of the LHC accelerator walls. The electron bombardment is accompanied by a clear chemical modification, indicating an increased graphitization as the SEY decreases. The decrease in the SEY is also found to depend significantly on the kinetic energy of the primary electrons. When low-energy primary electrons are employed (E≤20 eV), the reduction of the SEY is slower and smaller in magnitude than when higher-energy electrons are used. Consequences of this observation are discussed mainly for their relevance on the commissioning scenario for the LHC in operation at CERN (Geneva), but are expected to be of interest for other research fields.