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11:20
Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Evidence for a late supernova injection of 60Fe into the protoplanetary disk
Martin Bizzarro1, David Ulfbeck, Anne Trinquier
1Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350, Denmark. bizzarro@geol.ku.dk
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 26, 2007
Summary
Early solar system planetesimals formed without iron-60 (60Fe), indicating its later injection. This discovery suggests the Sun formed in a massive star cluster, influencing early solar system composition and formation environments.
Area of Science:
- Cosmochemistry
- Isotope Geochemistry
- Planetary Science
Background:
- The early solar system contained short-lived radioactive isotopes crucial for planetesimal formation.
- Iron-60 (60Fe) is a key isotope for understanding early solar system thermal history and nucleosynthetic sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the initial abundance and distribution of 60Fe in early solar system bodies.
- To constrain the timing of 60Fe injection into the protoplanetary disk.
- To determine the solar system's formation environment based on isotopic decoupling.
Main Methods:
- High-precision 60Fe-60Ni isotope analysis of meteorites from differentiated planetesimals.
- Comparison of isotopic ratios in meteorites with terrestrial and Martian samples.
- Radiometric dating to establish chronological sequences.
Main Results:
- Most early planetesimals (formed within 1 million years) show lower 60Ni/58Ni ratios (approx. 25 ppm) than Earth, Mars, and chondrites.
- This deficit indicates formation in an environment devoid of live 60Fe.
- Younger objects contain live 60Fe, suggesting injection ~1 million years after solar system formation, after 26Al homogenization.
Conclusions:
- The oldest planetesimals accreted before the main injection of 60Fe.
- The decoupling of 26Al and 60Fe appearance points to solar formation within a dense stellar cluster with massive stars.
- This constrains the specific conditions and location of the Sun's birth.
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