Pair of presolar grains from the Murchison meteorite. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Energy
Exploring the secrets of supernovae and their impact on our universe is a fascinating journey. These cosmic explosions are responsible for creating most elements in existence, including those that make up our very being. Astronomers are constantly striving to unravel the mysteries behind these celestial events.
One intriguing aspect is how isotopes generated by supernovae influence the development of planetary systems. Among different types of supernovae, which ones contribute most significantly to shaping the elemental composition we observe today? To delve into these questions, scientists turn to presolar grains.
Presolar grains are tiny particles formed before our sun came into being. Some were ejected from older star systems during stellar evolution processes while others originated from remnants of cosmic phenomena like supernovae and stellar collisions. Each presolar grain carries a distinct isotopic signature that narrates its unique history.
Traditionally found in meteorites, presolar grains have also been collected from comets by missions like Stardust, broadening research opportunities. Advanced technologies such as radio telescopes enable astronomers to analyze isotope ratios directly at their source using instruments like ALMA. This allows for comprehensive studies both in laboratory settings and outer space.
A recent study shared on the arXiv preprint server delves into comparing lab-based analysis with space observations focusing on supernova contributions.
The study emphasizes the importance of physically gathering presolar grains to decipher their origins effectively. For instance, Type II supernovae or core-collapse supernovae are known producers of Titanium-44—an unstable isotope that can lead to an excess amount of calcium-44 in presolar grains through decay processes.
2024-11-02 21:15:03
Original article available at phys.org