Additional information
by Keith Albyn (Author), Nasa Technical Reports Server (Ntrs) (Created by)
The photolysis of three organic materials, by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation, has been quantified using 15-MHz temperature-controlled quartz microbalances (TQCM's). The rate at which molecular species, released from the individual samples, condensed on two TQCM s was measured for periods of up to 139.9-hours. The individual samples were heated in an effusion cell and the emitted molecular species collected on a pair of TQCM's which were maintained at -40 degrees Celsius. At several points during the deposition measurement, the deposition surface of one TQCM was illuminated by a 30 Watt deuterium lamp, and the loss of material from that surface was observed. V W illumination of the TQCM, concurrent with condensation, reduced the rate that material was lost from the deposition surface. These measurements present a contrasting picture of molecular deposition, in the presence of VUV, to that presented by other investigators who observed an enhanced rate of molecular deposition, when the deposition surface was illuminated by VUV.
