The diffusion of N2 in crystals was studied via Raman scattering of natural ice from the Antarctic ice sheet. Molecular dynamics simulations were also made of the diffusion of N2. The results showed that the N2 molecule hopped within the crystal by breaking H-bonds in the lattice. The diffusion velocity according to this mechanism was some orders of magnitude higher than that estimated by assuming an interstitial mechanism. It was concluded that the localized vibrational motion of N2 was the predominant factor which governed the diffusion mechanism.

Diffusion of Nitrogen Gas in Ice Ih. T.Ikeda-Fukazawa, K.Kawamura, T.Hondoh: Chemical Physics Letters, 2004, 385[5-6], 467-71