Stability of interstellar fullerenes under high-dose γ-irradiation: new data

摘要: Abstract The detection of fullerenes in carbonaceous chondrites and the geological strata Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary layer, associated with Yucatan bolide impact, can be considered as an indirect evidence fullerene formation circumstellar envelopes mass-losing carbon-rich stars. large carbon clusters are very stable compounds respect to various physical chemical factors. Nevertheless only scarce data on their behavior under high-dose γ-irradiation available. This aspect is crucial importance for chemistry interstellar fullerenes, since existence spherical must finally depend competition between rates radiation decomposition. In continuation our studies capability solid C 60 withstand prolonged γ-irradiation, present work we report a long duration experiment, lasted ca. 8 months. We found that degree decomposition, both presence absence liquid water, was less than 15%, demonstrating its extreme stability. A similar stability expected different space environments, where formed, incorporated into dust particles subsequently comets, travel through Universe.