Astrophysical implications of ice sputtering.

Volatiles condensed on surfaces and condensed as major constituents of astronomical bodies (e.g., comets and the satellites of Saturn) are important constituents of the solar system and, likely, the interstellar medium. In most regions of space the charged particle environments such as the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres can interact directly with the ice- covered surfaces and the icy objects, producing physical and chemical alterations. Many of the recent studies of the effects of charged particles on solar system objects, using laboratory- based and spacecraft-measured, data are summarized here.