Radiolysis as a Possible Mechanism for Perchlorate Synthesis on Mars and Europa

Perchlorates have been found in the regolith of Mars and the Moon, in the ice of Europa, and in meteorites. Studying the processes of formation and destruction of these compounds is important both for understanding the geological and climatic evolution of a number of planets and bodies of the Solar System, and for assessing their habitability. To date, a number of processes for the synthesis of perchlorates under Martian conditions have been proposed, but these do not explain the perchlorate concentrations observed in the regolith and are not applicable to atmosphereless bodies, in particular Europa. We have studied the processes of synthesis and destruction of perchlorates during irradiation of ice and regolith models with high-energy electrons under conditions of low temperature (–50°C) and in the absence of an atmosphere (at a pressure of 0.01 mbar). The data obtained indicate that perchlorates can be efficiently synthesized in the regolith of Mars and the surface layer of Europa ice under the influence of irradiation in the absence of a liquid phase or an atmosphere.