Laboratory measurements of infrared absorption spectra of hydrogen-ordered ICE: A step to the exploration of ICE XI in space

Infrared absorption spectra of ice were obtained at 4, 60, 100, 140, 160, and 240 K to make spectroscopic observations of hydrogen ordering at low temperatures. A broad peak observed at around 850 cm^-1 (11.7 μm) was derived from libration of water molecules. The peak width was notably narrower at temperatures less than 140 K. A decrease in the peak width occurring in accordance with the formation of ice with ordered arrangements of hydrogen atoms was suggested from incoherent inelastic neutron-scattering studies. These results are consistent with ordering of hydrogen atoms. The existence of hydrogen-ordered ice in space is the subject of continuing astronomical debate. Our results demonstrate that ordered ice in space is detectable using infrared telescopes and planetary exploration.