Characteristic low-temperature crystallization of amorphous Mg-bearing silicate grains under electron irradiation

Amorphous Mg-bearing silicate grains, which were produced by the coalescence between MgO and SiOx smoke particles, were crystallized to forsterite (Mg2SiO4) by electron-beam irradiation in a transmission electron microscope at room temperature. The crystallization induced by electron beams was accelerated by the presence of CH4 adsorbed on the surface and incorporated interior of the grains. This experimental result implies the possibility of low-temperature crystallization in a silicate carbon star. In the case of binary stars, since the materials that flow from the stars stationarily exist around the star, the formed amorphous silicate grains will be irradiated by electrons from the star for a long duration. As a result, a significant amount of crystalline silicates can be produced.