Ion irradiation of ices: astrochemical and astrobiological applications

We present some recent results obtained by an ongoing research that aims into the experimental study of the e ects induced by fast ions in solids, in particular frozen gases. The technique used to analyze the e ects of irradiation has been "in situ" infrared spectroscopy. Here we discuss the formation of carbon chain oxides (e.g. C3O2) after ion irradiation of frozen CO. A detailed study of the IR spectroscopic properties of solid frozen formamide is presented along with the modifications induced by ion irradiation. The results are relevant to explain the presence of molecules in the circumstellar environment of a newly born star. Those molecules could be produced by energetic processing of dust and released to the gas phase after warming up.