Outgassing and degradation of polyimide induced by swift heavy ion irradiation at cryogenic temperature

Polyimide foils were irradiated with energetic Kr (740 MeV) and Pb (890 MeV) ions at cryogenic temperature (12 K). Beam-induced degradation processes were monitored by residual gas analysis and online infrared spectroscopy. The outgassing components observed at low irradiation temperatures differ in quantity but are similar in mass distribution to those identified at room temperature exposure. Besides CO as major volatile fragment, a significant contribution of short hydrocarbons like $C2Hx$ is released. In situ infrared spectroscopy indicates accumulation of CO and $CO2$ molecules at 12 K in the foils. During heat-up cycles, most of these frozen gases become mobile and outgas at a temperature between 35 and 55 K. The study is motivated by the application of polyimide foils as insulating material in high radiation environment of the future accelerator facility for antiproton and ion research (FAIR).