We report unprecedented transmission experiments of 3 keV ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions through capillaries of 100 nm diameter and $10\mu \mathrm{m}$ length produced by etching ion tracks in a polymer foil. We studied foils tilted up to $\pm 20°$ for which the incident ions are forced to interact with the capillary surface. Surprisingly, the majority of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions were found to survive the surface scattering events in their initial charge state. The angular distributions of the transmitted particles indicate propagation of the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions along the capillary axis. This capillary guiding of the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ion provides evidence that the inner walls of the capillaries become charged and electron capture from the surface is suppressed in a self-organizing process.

Cross sections for electron emission in the energy range from $2–300\mathrm{eV}$ were measured for $60\mathrm{MeV}/u$ ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{34+}$ ions impacting on ${\mathrm{H}}_2$. Model calculations are introduced to guide the search for interference effects in the electron spectra produced by the coherent emission of electrons from the two H atoms in analogy with Young’s two-slit experiment. Experimentally, a full sinusoidal-like oscillation was observed in the energy range up to $250\mathrm{eV}$ in good agreement with the calculations. The oscillatory structure is found to be similar for the observation angles $20°$, $30°$, $150°$, and $160°$.

Angle- and energy-dependent cross sections for electron emission were measured for 68-MeV/u ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{33+}$ ions impacting on ${\mathrm{H}}_2.$ These results show, in accordance with our earlier observation, that interference effects are produced by the coherent emission of electrons from the two H atoms, in analogy with Young’s two-slit experiment. Furthermore, the present results demonstrate that the observed oscillatory pattern varies with the electron observation angle, contrary to our earlier expectations but in agreement with recent theoretical predictions.

We studied the dynamic properties of ion guiding through nanocapillaries in insulating polyethylene terephthalate. The angular distribution of the transmitted ions was measured as a function of the charge deposited on the sample surface, which is a measure of time. The time evolution of the angular transmission profiles was acquired for the capillary diameters of 200 and $400\mathrm{nm}$. The tilt angle was varied from 0° to 6.5°. The transmission profiles appear as a superposition of essentially three localized peaks which exhibit significant changes in intensity as time varies. This observation provides evidence for the formation of temporary charge patches produced in the interior of the capillary besides the primary charge patch created in the entrance region.

Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and is known to play a significant role in biological systems. Accordingly, in recent years there has been increased interest in the role of sulfur in astrochemical reactions and planetary geology and geochemistry. Among the many avenues of research currently being explored is the laboratory processing of astrophysical ice analogues. Such research involves the synthesis of an ice of specific morphology and chemical composition at temperatures and pressures relevant to a selected astrophysical setting (such as the interstellar medium or the surfaces of icy moons). Subsequent processing of the ice under conditions that simulate the selected astrophysical setting commonly involves radiolysis, photolysis, thermal processing, neutral-neutral fragment chemistry, or any combination of these, and has been the subject of several studies. The in-situ changes in ice morphology and chemistry occurring during such processing are often monitored via spectroscopic or spectrometric techniques. In this paper, we have reviewed the results of laboratory investigations concerned with sulfur chemistry in several astrophysical ice analogues. Specifically, we review (i) the spectroscopy of sulfur-containing astrochemical molecules in the condensed phase, (ii) atom and radical addition reactions, (iii) the thermal processing of sulfur-bearing ices, (iv) photochemical experiments, (v) the non-reactive charged particle radiolysis of sulfur-bearing ices, and (vi) sulfur ion bombardment of and implantation in ice analogues. Potential future studies in the field of solid phase sulfur astrochemistry are also discussed in the context of forthcoming space missions, such as the NASA James Webb Space Telescope and the ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission.