Introducing GEANT4-IcyMoons!

I am happy to announce the official GEANT4-IcyMoons collaboration, which unites researchers in planetary science, radiation physics, and astrobiology to model how energetic particles transform icy materials across the Solar System and beyond. In the initial stage, we are adapting the GEANT4-DNA framework to simulate how electrons, protons, and ions interact with solid water ice under planetary conditions. These models capture how energy is deposited, scattered, and trapped within amorphous and crystalline ice, revealing how radiation is deposited and how it modifies the structure and chemistry of planetary ices.

The next phase focuses on the organic cycle in irradiated ice. We plan to develop chemical modules that track the radiolytic formation and destruction of organic molecules and volatiles. This work connects the surfaces of Europa and Enceladus to the processing of ices in comets, Kuiper Belt objects, and the interstellar medium, where radiation chemistry drives the synthesis of prebiotic compounds. By linking particle physics to observable spectra, the project bridges nanoscale energy deposition and macroscopic chemistry seen by telescopes and missions such as JWST, Europa Clipper, and JUICE.

We welcome new partners, ideas, and collaborations from anyone interested in radiation-driven chemistry, ice physics, or the origins of complex molecules in space. Learn more and get involved (soon) at github.com/Geant4-IcyMoons.