Hydrocarbons in interstellar ice analogues : UV-vis spectroscopy and VUV photochemistry

This thesis treats the chemical behaviour of carbonaceous molecules in water-dominated interstellar ices. VUV photons are considered as the chemical trigger to induce solid state chemistry as it is omnipresent. Lyman-\n radiation occurs even in dense\nmolecular clouds as a result of cosmic ray excitation of H2 and subsequently emitting its excess energy at 122 nm (Mathis et al. 1983). It comprises the addition of new tools to laboratory astrochemistry, expanding knowledge on the behaviour of PAHs in interstellar ices and research into the role of C\n2H2 and polyynes in interstellar ice VUV\nphotochemistry. It provides with spectroscopic tools for observers to enable the identification of the hydrocarbons encountered in interstellar ices, and it provides modellers with reaction dynamic information that can be used as an input for their models.