Evidence for supernova injection into the solar nebula and the decoupling of r-process nucleosynthesis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Oct 22;110(43):17241-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1307759110. Epub 2013 Oct 7.

Abstract

The isotopic composition of our Solar System reflects the blending of materials derived from numerous past nucleosynthetic events, each characterized by a distinct isotopic signature. We show that the isotopic compositions of elements spanning a large mass range in the earliest formed solids in our Solar System, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), are uniform, and yet distinct from the average Solar System composition. Relative to younger objects in the Solar System, CAIs contain positive r-process anomalies in isotopes A < 140 and negative r-process anomalies in isotopes A > 140. This fundamental difference in the isotopic character of CAIs around mass 140 necessitates (i) the existence of multiple sources for r-process nucleosynthesis and (ii) the injection of supernova material into a reservoir untapped by CAIs. A scenario of late supernova injection into the protoplanetary disk is consistent with formation of our Solar System in an active star-forming region of the galaxy.

Keywords: H-Event; early Solar System; isotopic anomalies; nebular disk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / chemistry
  • Barium / chemistry
  • Calcium / chemistry
  • Extraterrestrial Environment / chemistry*
  • Isotopes / analysis*
  • Meteoroids*
  • Molybdenum / chemistry
  • Neodymium / chemistry
  • Samarium / chemistry
  • Solar System / chemistry*
  • Strontium / chemistry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Isotopes
  • Barium
  • Neodymium
  • Samarium
  • Molybdenum
  • Aluminum
  • Calcium
  • Strontium