In situ Observation of Structural Transition of Ice under Electron Beam Irradiation by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Keita Kobayashi^a, Kazutomo Suenaga^b, Masanori Koshino^b and Hidehiro Yasuda^a

^aResearch Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University
^bNanotube Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Abstract: In cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the specimen is exposed to high vacuum, low temperature, and a high-energy electron probe beam. Such an environment can be considered to mimic outer space under cosmic ray irradiation. To investigate the structures and structural transition of ice in outer space under cosmic rays irradiation, the structural transformation of ice under electron beam irradiation was observed in situ by cryogenic TEM. Here we briefly review the experimental results.

Key words: Cryogenic TEM, Ice, Electron beam irradiation, Phase transition