Study of the luminescence of H2O and D2O ices induced by charged-particle bombardment

We measured the optical emission of H2O and D2O ices in visible region (300–500 nm) induced by energetic hydrogen ions (H+, H2+, and H3+) irradiation. Our analysis of the data of ion-stimulated luminescence (ISL) shows that all spectra of ISL emission are identical, independent of projectile. We show that all lines in the ISL emission spectrum may be assigned to decays from excited particles and/or fragments of H, H2, OH, and H2O. From the independence of emission spectrum on projectile we conclude that the final process causing the emissions may be attributed to the interaction between H+ (and/or H) and the water molecules.