Triple test under high vacuum conditions to control the reliability of thin ice film accretion and desorption for astrophysical applications

One of the aims of astrophysics and astrochemistry is to understand the behavior and implications of the presence of ices such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, etc., in environments of astrophysical interest. In the laboratory, studies of the characterization of these ices are widely performed. During these experiments it is necessary to control three crucial points: the presence of contaminants, the rate of deposition of molecules during the growth of the ice film and the rate of desorption. In our laboratory we have implemented a methodology to control these parameters with three different and complementary techniques. This allows us not only to control but also to determine several parameters of ice analogs such as density, porosity, energy of desorption, etc. The strict control of these crucial points simultaneously allows us to ensure the reliability of our system when determining relevant parameters of ice films for astrophysical applications.