Deep inside dense molecular clouds and protostellar disks, interstellar ices are protected from stellar energetic UV photons. However, X-rays and energetic cosmic rays can penetrate inside these regions triggering chemical reactions, molecular dissociation, and evaporation processes. We present experimental studies of the interaction of heavy, highly charged, and energetic ions (46 MeV 58 Ni 13+ ) with ammonia-containing ices H 2 O:NH 3 (1:0.5) and H 2 O:NH 3 :CO (1:0.6:0.4) in an attempt to simulate the physical chemistry induced by heavy-ion cosmic rays inside dense astrophysical environments. The measurements were performed inside a high vacuum chamber coupled to the IRRSUD (IR radiation SUD) beamline at the heavy-ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds) in Caen, France. The gas samples were deposited onto a polished CsI substrate previously cooled to 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) at different fluences. The average values of the dissociation cross-section of water, ammonia, and carbon monoxide due to heavy-ion cosmic ray analogs are ∼2 × 10 −13 , 1.4 × 10 −13 , and 1.9 × 10 −13 cm 2 , respectively. In the presence of a typical heavy cosmic ray field, the estimated half life of the studied species is 2-3 × 10 6 years. The ice compaction (micropore collapse) produced by heavy cosmic rays seems to be at least 3 orders of magnitude higher than that produced by (0.8 MeV) protons. The infrared spectra of the irradiated ice samples exhibit lines of several new species including HNCO, N 2 O, OCN − , and NH + 4 . In the case of the irradiated H 2 O:NH 3 :CO ice, the infrared spectrum at room temperature contains five bands that are tentatively assigned to vibration modes of the zwitterionic glycine (NH + 3 CH 2 COO − ).

An experimental study of the interaction of heavy, highly charged, and energetic ions (52 MeV 58 Ni 13+ ) with pure H 2 O, pure CO 2 and mixed H 2 O:CO 2 astrophysical ice analogs is presented. This analysis aims to simulate the chemical and the physicochemical interactions induced by heavy cosmic rays inside dense and cold astrophysical environments, such as molecular clouds or protostellar clouds. The measurements were performed at the heavy ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds in Caen, France). The gas samples were deposited onto a CsI substrate at 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer at different fluences. Radiolysis yields of the produced species were quantified. The dissociation cross sections of pure H 2 O and CO 2 ices are 1.1 and 1.9 ×10 −13 cm 2 , respectively. For mixed H 2 O:CO 2 (10:1), the dissociation cross sections of both species are about 1 × 10 −13 cm 2 . The measured sputtering yield of pure CO 2 ice is 2.2 × 10 4 molec ion −1 . After a fluence of 2−3 × 10 12 ions cm −2 , the CO 2 /CO ratio becomes roughly constant (∼0.1), independent of the initial CO 2 /H 2 O ratio. A similar behavior is observed for the H 2 O 2 /H 2 O ratio, which stabilizes at 0.01, independent of the initial H 2 O column density or relative abundance.