Observations of the Icy Universe

2015/01/31 by A. C. A. Boogert, A.C. Adwin Boogert, Adwin Boogert +6 · 1,018 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrobiology #Astrochemistry #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Cosmic ray #Galaxy #Infrared #Interstellar ice #Interstellar medium #Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure #Physics #Solar System #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.EP #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.SR

paper · pdf · doi:10.1146/annurev-astro-082214-122348

published in Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics 53(1), 541-581 (Annual Reviews) · To appear in Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 53, 2015. Updated 08/May/2015: corrected numbers in elemental budget section, updated references and typos

arxiv created 2015/05/08 · openalex publication_date 2015/07/11 · arxiv updated 2015/09/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Freeze-out of the gas-phase elements onto cold grains in dense interstellar and circumstellar media builds up ice mantles consisting of molecules that are mostly formed in situ (H 2 O, NH 3 , CO 2 , CO, CH 3 OH, and more). This review summarizes the detected infrared spectroscopic ice features and compares the abundances across Galactic, extragalactic, and Solar System environments. A tremendous amount of information is contained in the ice band profiles. Laboratory experiments play a critical role in the analysis of the observations. Strong evidence is found for distinct ice formation stages, separated by CO freeze-out at high densities. The ice bands have proven to be excellent probes of the thermal history of their environment. The evidence for the long-held idea that processing of ices by energetic photons and cosmic rays produces complex molecules is weak. Recent state-of-the-art observations show promise for much progress in this area with planned infrared facilities.

Citations

• Complex Organic Interstellar Molecules

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Related

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