Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System
Published on: June 5, 2014
History of individual presolar SiC grains revealed by stellar winds
Ken-Ichi Bajo1, Tatsuki Izumi1, Yuta Otsuki1
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, which are evolved low- to intermediate-mass stars, rank among the most prolific producers of interstellar dust in the Galaxy. Presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains in meteorites are mainly produced by AGB stars. These presolar grains contain abundant noble gases, believed to have been implanted by stellar winds from the central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe). Here we report 3-D maps of the helium distribution in individual presolar SiC grains. The maps reveal that the implantation energy of 4He for individual grains varies from about 2 to about 4 keV/nucleon, which falls within the range of the CSPN winds. The variation of 4He fluence (1×1012-2×1015 atom cm-2) shows that the SiC grains form during the last about 1 My period of the AGB star phase. Then, they migrate outwards and become exposed to CSPN winds at distances of 0.3-32 light-years from the CSPNe.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Conditions on Early Earth
Global Climate Change
Gravitation Between Spherically Symmetric Masses
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Interference
Atomic Nuclei: Larmor Precession Frequency

