The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics-Astrochemistry (ICA): A New
  Experimental Facility for Ion Impact Studies of Astrophysical Ice Analogues
  The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics-Astrochemistry (ICA) is a new laboratory
end-station located at the Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki) in Debrecen,
Hungary. The ICA has been specifically designed for the study of the
physico-chemical properties of astrophysical ice analogues and their chemical
evolution when subjected to ionising radiation and thermal processing. The ICA
is an ultra-high vacuum compatible chamber containing a series of
IR-transparent substrates mounted in a copper holder connected to a
closed-cycle cryostat capable of being cooled down to 20 K, itself mounted on a
360{\deg} rotation stage and a z-linear manipulator. Ices are deposited onto
the substrates via background deposition of dosed gases. Ice structure and
chemical composition are monitored by means of FTIR absorbance spectroscopy in
transmission mode, although use of reflectance mode is possible by using
metallic substrates. Pre-prepared ices may be processed in a variety of ways. A
2 MV Tandetron accelerator is capable of delivering a wide variety of
high-energy ions into the ICA, which simulates ice processing by cosmic rays,
the solar wind, or magnetospheric ions. The ICA is also equipped with an
electron gun which may be used for electron impact radiolysis of ices. Thermal
processing of both deposited and processed ices may be monitored by means of
both FTIR spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectrometry. In this paper, we
provide a detailed description of the ICA set-up, as well as an overview of
preliminary results obtained and future plans.
