Charged particle alteration of ices: Applications to Solar system astrophysics.

The outer solar system consists of many objects whose surfaces are covered with condensed volatiles or which contain condensed volatiles as major constituents. These volatiles are insulator materials. Such objects include planetary satellites, comets, and interplanetary grains. The solar system also contains varied charged particle (plasma) environments which can interact with the volatile-containing objects, producing physical and chemical alterations. This paper briefly summarizes some of the interesting astrophysical problems of present-day interest which are related to charged-particle modification of ices.