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Photodesorption

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Photoevaporation​; Photosputtering

Definition

A photodesorption event occurs when the absorption of a UV (or X-ray) photon by a molecule condensed on a surface results in its desorption (direct photodesorption), in the “kick-out” of a nearby molecule (indirect photodesorption), or in dissociation followed by recombination and desorption (photochemical desorption). In space, photodesorption can regulate the locations of “snow-lines,” the transition regions where the dominant phase of volatiles changes from gas to ice (particularly in protoplanetary disks). Photodesorption from ices and other surfaces that mimic interstellar grain compositions is characterized experimentally to determine molecule-specific desorption efficiencies and mechanisms.

Overview

In dense and cold regions in space, atoms and molecules freeze out on interstellar grains, forming icy mantles that continue to evolve chemically. Photodesorption connects the surface/ice chemistry with the gas phase in regions...

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References and Further Reading

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Astrophysics, Harvard-Smithsonian, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Karin I. Öberg

Authors
  1. Karin I. Öberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karin I. Öberg .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, Pessac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

  3. Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Univ. Autónoma de Madrid Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  4. Analytical-, Environm., Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium

    Philippe Claeys

  5. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, WASHINGTON, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  6. Radio Astronomy, Paris Observatory, Paris, France

    Maryvonne Gerin

  7. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon, France

    Daniel Rouan

  8. International Space Science Institute, Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Tilman Spohn

  9. Centre Francois Viète, Universite de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Stéphane Tirard

  10. Innovaxiom, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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Öberg, K.I. (2022). Photodesorption. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1195-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1195-5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Photodesorption
    Published:
    16 March 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1195-5

  2. Original

    Photodesorption
    Published:
    29 April 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1195-4

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