Molecule Formation by Implantation in Insulators

Abstract

Molecule synthesis upon implantation of 1 to 4 keV/amu ions in thin silica films and silicate grains is studied. It is shown that carbon implantation leads to the preferential synthesis of C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ at low fluences, CO becoming the dominant species at high fluences. The overall efficiency of the synthesis is ∼60%. C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ synthesized by implantation of solar-wind ions is observed in lunar dust grains, and this process may have important astrophysical implications.