Laboratory studies of desorption from model interstellar ices using surface science methodologies

Institute of Chemical Sciences, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK

Abstract

Desorption of condensed species is a key process in controlling the balance of material between the solid and gaseous phases in the interstellar medium. Therefore, a quantitative understanding of desorption in astrophysical environments, by both thermal and non-thermal mechanisms, is essential for development of the field of astrochemistry. This paper briefly reviews recent progress in the study of desorption by experimental and computational methods, and identifies some areas with potential for development in the near future.