| Abstract
| - Irradiation is one of the main processes which influences the evolution of dust in astrophysical environments. This article reviews the basics of particle-matter interactions and gives an introduction to the induced modifications including phase transformation, sputtering, implantation, charging effects and transmutation. We also discuss the role of the nature of the incident particle (energetic photons, electrons and ions) as a function of its energy. Finally, we briefly review the main results obtained by irradiation studies on ices, carbonaceous matter and silicates.
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