Memory of ice observed by neutron diffraction

Fukazawa, Hiroshi; Arakawa, Masashi*; Kagi, Hiroyuki; Chakoumakos, B.*; Fernandez-Baca, J. A.*

From neutron diffraction experiments, we found that small hydrogen-ordered domains exist at significantly higher temperature and the domains induce the growth of bulk ice XI. The small ordered domain is named memory of hydrogen ordered ice because it is the residual structure of ice XI. Since the memory exists up to about 150 K, most of ices in the solar system are hydrogen ordered and may have ferroelectricity. The small hydrogen-ordered domains govern the cosmochemical properties of ice.