Study of physical and chemical changes in organic solids produced by irradiation of heavy ions.

This project proposes to advance in the understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation (heavy ions) on solid materials. Heavy ions (c, o, faith, n, zn) are present in the solar wind and cosmic rays. Due to the very low temperatures in space (3 k), organic solid phase molecules (H2O, CO, CO2, NH3, CH4, CH3O) can be found, which, being exposed to cosmic radiation, suffer chemical changes (synthesis of new molecules) and physical (disorption, ionization, thermalization, and structural changes of ice). With the purpose of understanding these changes, the principal investigator of this project, as part of his postdoctoral, was previously linked to the Ganil-Ensicaen laboratory, where simulations are carried out in pressure and temperature conditions similar to those found in space, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The acquisition of data was made by infrared absorption spectroscopy, from which the amount of each chemical compound was obtained. This information is useful to confirm the abundance, distribution and evolution of chemical compounds in space. The objective of this project is to advance with the works carried out in the Ganil. In particular, it is sought to process the experimental results obtained in said laboratory and advance in the understanding of phenomena that can contribute to a better understanding of radiation-material interaction. The results obtained from this research will be published in several scientific articles in indexed magazines, placing the University of Cuenca among the institutions that these phenomena study worldwide.

XVI UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COMPETITION