Molybdenum Isotopic Composition of Individual Presolar Silicon Carbide Grains from the Murchison Meteorite

We report the isotopic composition of molybdenum in twenty-three presolar SiC grains from the Murchison meteorite which have been measured by resonant ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). Relative to terrestrial abundance (and normalized to s-process-only ⁹⁶Mo), the majority of the analyzed grains show strong depletions in the p-process isotopes ⁹²Mo and ⁹⁴Mo and the r-process isotope ¹⁰⁰Mo. Sixteen of these grains have δ-values <−600% for these three isotopes. The observed isotopic patterns of Mo from mainstream SiC grains clearly reveal the signature of s-process nucleosynthesis. Three-isotope plots of all grain data (δⁱMo vs. δ⁹²Mo) show strong linear correlations with characteristic slopes. This finding suggests mixing of solar-like material and pure s-process material in the parent stars. Comparison with evolutionary calculations of nucleosynthesis and mixing in red giants suggests that low-mass thermally-pulsed symptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars are the most likely site for the observed s-process nucleosynthesis.     

Presolar Grains and Their Isotopic Anomalies in Meteorites

Study on presolar grains including diamond,silicon carbide,graphite,silicon nitrite(Si3N4),coundum and spinel isolated from meteorites is summarized in this paper.Except for nanometer-sized diamond,the other grains are micrometers to submicrometers in size.The presolar grains survived mainly in the fine-grained matrix of primitive chondrites and were isolated by chemical treatments.Diamond contains Xe isotopes(Xe-HL),typically produced in p-and r-processes,probably formed in supernovae.Mainstream silicon carbides are enriched in ^29,30Si and ^13C,but depleted in ^15N.They also contain various s-process products,consistent with calculations of AGB stars.Other silicon carbides exhibit much larger isotopic anomalies and are classified as groups X,Y,Z and AB.Among them,group X of SiC is characterized by enrichment of ^28Si and daughter isotopes of various short-lived nuclides,suggesting an origin from supernovae.Graphite can be divided into four density fractions with distince isotopic compositions.They may form in AGB stars,novae and supernovae,respctively,Si3N4 is similar to X-SiC in isotopic composition.Corundum is classified as four groups based on theid oxygen isotopic compositions.AGB and red giang stare are possible sources for the oxide.More comprehensive study of presolar grains,especially discovery of the other types of oxides and silicates,isotopic analyses of individual submicrometer-sized grains and distribution of presolar grains among various chemical groups and petropaphic types of chondrites will provide new information on nucleosynthesis,stellar evolution and formation of the solar nebula.     

陨石中的太阳系外物质及其同位素异常

到目前为止从陨石中分离出的太阳系外物质有金刚石、碳化硅、石墨、Ｓｉ３Ｎ４、刚玉及尖晶石等。除金刚石为纳米级大小外,其他为微米和次微米级颗粒。这些太阳系外物质主要存在于原始的球粒陨石的基质中,并通过化学分离的方法获得。金刚石携带分别由ｐ－过程和ｒ－过程产生的Ｘｅ同位素组分（Ｘｅ－ＨＬ）,其源区可能提超新星。绝大部分碳化硅相对于太阳系物质富＾２９．３０Ｓｉ和＾１３Ｃ,贫＾１５Ｎ,并携带ｓ－过程产生的各     

Polytype distribution of circumstellar silicon carbide: microstructural characterization by transmission electron microscopy

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a particularly interesting species of presolar grain because it is known to form on the order of a hundred different polytypes in the laboratory, and the formation of a particular polytype is sensitive to growth conditions. Astronomical evidence for the formation of SiC in expanding circumstellar atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) carbon stars is provided by infrared (IR) studies. However, identification of the crystallographic structure of SiC from IR spectra is controversial. Since >95% of the presolar SiC isolated from meteorites formed around carbon stars, a determination of the structure of presolar SiC is, to first order, a direct determination of the structure of circumstellar SiC. We therefore determined the polytype distribution of presolar SiC from the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous meteorite using analytical and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High-resolution lattice images and electron diffraction of 508 individual SiC grains demonstrate that only two polytypes are present, the cubic 3C (β-SiC) polytype (79.4% of population by number) and the hexagonal 2H (α-SiC) polytype (2.7%). Intergrowths of these two polytypes are relatively abundant (17.1%). No other polytypes were found. A small population of one-dimensionally disordered SiC grains (0.9%), whose high density of stacking faults precluded classification as any polytype, was also observed. The presolar origin of 2H α-SiC is unambiguously established by tens-of-nanometers-resolution secondary ion mass spectroscopy (NanoSIMS). Isotopic maps of a TEM-characterized 2H α-SiC grain exhibit non-solar isotopic compositions of ¹²C/¹³C = 64 ± 4 and ¹⁴N/¹⁵N = 575 ± 24. These measurements are consistent with mainstream presolar SiC thought to originate in the expanding atmospheres of AGB carbon stars. Equilibrium condensation calculations together with inferred mineral condensation sequences predict relatively low SiC condensation temperatures in carbon stars. The laboratory observed condensation temperatures of 2H and 3C SiC are generally the lowest of all SiC polytypes and fall within the predictions of the equilibrium calculations. These points account for the occurrence of only 2H and 3C polytypes of SiC in circumstellar outflows. The 2H and 3C SiC polytypes presumably condense at different radii (i.e., temperatures) in the expanding stellar atmospheres of AGB carbon stars.     

NanoSIMS isotopic analysis of small presolar grains: Search for Si3N4 grains from AGB stars and Al and Ti isotopic compositions of rare presolar SiC grains

We report isotopic ratio measurements of small SiC and Si₃N₄ grains, with special emphasis on presolar SiC grains of type Z, and new nucleosynthesis models for ²⁶Al/²⁷Al and the Ti isotopic ratios in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. With the NanoSIMS we analyzed 310 SiC grains from Murchison (carbonaceous CM2 chondrite) separate KJB (diameters 0.25-0.45 μm) and 153 SiC grains from KJG (diameters 1.8-3.7 μm), 154 SiC and 23 Si₃N₄ grains from Indarch (enstatite EH4 chondrite) separate IH6 (diameters 0.25-0.65 μm) for their C and N isotopic compositions, 549 SiC and 142 Si₃N₄ grains from IH6 for their C and Si isotopic compositions, 13 SiC grains from Murchison and 66 from Indarch for their Al-Mg compositions, and eight SiC grains from Murchison and 10 from Indarch for their Ti isotopic compositions. One of the original objectives of this effort was to compare isotopic analyses with the NanoSIMS with analyses previously obtained with the Cameca IMS 3f ion microprobe. Many of the Si₃N₄ grains from Indarch have isotopic anomalies but most of these apparently originate from adjacent SiC grains. Only one Si₃N₄ grain, with ¹³C and ¹⁴N excesses, has a likely AGB origin. The C, N, and Si isotopic data show that the percentage of SiC grains of type Y and Z increase with decreasing grain size (from ∼1% for grains >2 μm to ∼5-7% for grains of 0.5 μm), providing an opportunity for isotopic analyses in these rare grains. Our measurements expand the number of Al-Mg analyses on SiC Z grains from 4 to 23 and the number of Ti analyses on Z grains from 2 to 11. Inferred²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios of Z grains are in the range found in mainstream and Y grains and do not exceed those predicted by models of AGB nucleosynthesis. Cool bottom processing (CBP) has been invoked to explain the low ¹²C/¹³C ratios of Z grains, but this process apparently does not lead to increased ²⁶Al production in the parent stars of these grains. This finding is in contrast to presolar oxide grains where CBP is needed to explain their high ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios. The low ^46,47,49Ti/⁴⁸Ti ratios found in Z grains and their correlation with low ²⁹Si/²⁸Si ratios extend the trend seen in mainstream grains and confirm an origin in low-metallicity AGB stars. The relatively large excesses in ³⁰Si and ⁵⁰Ti in Z grains are predicted by our models to be the result of increased production of these isotopes by neutron-capture nucleosynthesis in low-metallicity AGB stars. However, the predicted excesses in ⁵⁰Ti (and ⁴⁹Ti) are much larger than those found. Even lowering the strength of the ¹³C pocket cannot solve this discrepancy in a consistent way.     

Small SiC grains and a nitride grain of circumstellar origin from the Murchison meteorite: implications for stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis

We report the results of SIMS isotopic analyses of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon made on 849 small (approximately 1 micrometer) individual silicon carbide grains from the Murchison meteorite. The isotopic compositions of the major elements carbon and silicon of most grains (mainstream) are similar to those observed in larger grain studies suggesting an AGB star origin of these grains. In contrast, the trace element nitrogen shows a clear dependency on grain size. 14N/15N ratios increase with decreasing grain size, suggesting different stellar sources for grains of different size. Typically observed 14N/15N ratios in the small grains of this study are approximately 2700, clearly larger than the values expected from model calculations of AGB stars. In addition to the three dredge-up episodes characteristic for the evolution of AGB stars, extra-mixing of CNO-processed matter in low mass AGB stars appears to be a promising possibility in order to explain the high 14N/15N ratios of the small circumstellar SiC grains. A small fraction of grains shows a silicon isotopic signature not observed in larger circumstellar SiC grains from Murchison. Their stellar origin is still uncertain. The minor type A, B, Y, and X grains were found to be present at a level of a percent, which is similar to their abundance in the larger-grain SiC separates from Murchison. Oxygen isotopic compositions are normal within the experimental uncertainties of several 10%, indicating that oxygen of stellar origin is rare or even absent in the SiC grains. We conclude that most of the oxygen is a contaminant which was introduced into the SiC grains after their formation, e.g., during sample processing in the laboratory. We identified a nitride grain, most likely Si3N4 with little carbon, with highly anomalous isotopic compositions (12C/13C = 157 +/- 33, 14N/15N = 18 +/- 1, delta 29 Si = -43 +/- 56%, delta 30 Si = -271 +/- 50%). The isotopic patterns of carbon, nitrogen, and silicon resemble those of the rare SiC X grains suggesting that these two rare constituents of circumstellar matter formed in the same type of stellar source, namely, Type II supernovae.     

High-precision osmium isotopes in enstatite and Rumuruti chondrites

Isotopic heterogeneity within the solar nebula has been a long-standing issue. Studies on primitive chondrites and chondrite components for Ba, Sm, Nd, Mo, Ru, Hf, Ti, and Os yielded conflicting results, with some studies suggesting large-scale heterogeneity. Low-grade enstatite and Rumuruti chondrites represent the most extreme ends of the chondrite meteorites in terms of oxidation state, and might thus also present extremes if there is significant isotopic heterogeneity across the region of chondrite formation. Osmium is an ideal tracer because of its multiple isotopes generated by a combination of p-, r-, and s-process and, as a refractory element; it records the earliest stages of condensation.Some grade 3-4 enstatite and Rumuruti chondrites show similar deficits of s-process components as revealed by high-precision Os isotope studies in some low-grade carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. Enstatite chondrites of grades 5-6 have Os isotopic composition identical within error to terrestrial and solar composition. This supports the view of digestion-resistant presolar grains, most likely SiC, as the major carrier of these anomalies. Destruction of presolar grains during parent body processing, which all high-grade enstatite chondrites, but also some low-grade chondrites seemingly underwent, makes the isotopically anomalous Os accessible for analysis. The magnitude of the anomalies is consistent with the presence of a few ppm of presolar SiC with a highly unusual isotopic composition, produced in a different stellar environment like asymptotic giant branch stars (AGB) and injected into the solar nebula. The presence of similar Os isotopic anomalies throughout all major chondrite groups implies that carriers of Os isotopic anomalies were homogeneously distributed in the solar nebula, at least across the formation region of chondrites.     

Automated isotopic measurements of micron-sized dust: application to meteoritic presolar silicon carbide

We report the development of a new analytical system allowing the fully automated measurement of isotopic ratios in micrometer-sized particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in a Cameca ims-6f ion microprobe. Scanning ion images and image processing algorithms are used to locate individual particles dispersed on sample substrates. The primary ion beam is electrostatically deflected to and focused onto each particle in turn, followed by a peak-jumping isotopic measurement. Automatic measurements of terrestrial standards indicate similar analytical uncertainties to traditional manual particle analyses (e.g., ∼3‰/amu for Si isotopic ratios). We also present an initial application of the measurement system to obtain Si and C isotopic ratios for ∼3300 presolar SiC grains from the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite. Three rare presolar Si₃N₄ grains were also identified and analyzed. Most of the analyzed grains were extracted from the host meteorite using a new chemical dissolution procedure. The isotopic data are broadly consistent with previous observations of presolar SiC in the same size range (∼0.5-4 μm). Members of the previously identified SiC AB, X, Y, and Z subgroups were identified, as was a highly unusual grain with an extreme ³⁰Si enrichment, a modest ²⁹Si enrichment, and isotopically light C. The stellar source responsible for this grain is likely to have been a supernova. Minor differences in isotopic distributions between the present work and prior data can be partially explained by terrestrial contamination and grain aggregation on sample mounts, though some of the differences are probably intrinsic to the samples. We use the large new SiC database to explore the relationships between three previously identified isotopic subgroups—mainstream, Y, and Z grains—all believed to originate in asymptotic giant branch stars. The isotopic data for Z grains suggest that their parent stars experienced strong CNO-cycle nucleosynthesis during the early asymptotic giant branch phase, consistent with either cool bottom processing in low-mass (M < 2.3M_⊙) parent stars or hot-bottom burning in intermediate-mass stars (M > 4M_⊙). The data provide evidence for a sharp threshold in metallicity, above which SiC grains form with much higher ¹²C/¹³C ratios than below. Above this threshold, the fraction of grains with relatively high ¹²C/¹³C decreases exponentially with increasing ²⁹Si/²⁸Si ratio. This result indicates a sharp increase in the maximum mass of SiC parent stars with decreasing metallicity, in contrast to expectations from Galactic chemical evolution theory.     

Auger Nanoprobe analysis of presolar ferromagnesian silicate grains from primitive CR chondrites QUE 99177 and MET 00426

We have investigated the presolar grain inventories of two CR chondrites, QUE 99177 and MET 00426, which are less altered than most members of this meteorite group. Both meteorites contain high abundances of O-anomalous presolar grains, with concentrations of 220 ± 40 and 160 ± 30 ppm for QUE 99177 and MET 00426, respectively. The presolar grain inventories are dominated by ferromagnesian silicates with group 1 oxygen isotopic compositions, indicative of origins in low mass red giant or asymptotic giant branch stars. Grains with pyroxene-like compositions are somewhat more common than those with olivine-like compositions, but most grains are non-stoichiometric with compositions intermediate between these two phases, consistent with recent work suggesting that amorphous interstellar silicates have stoichiometries between olivine and pyroxene type silicates. Although structural data are not available, one grain contains only Si and O, and has a stoichiometry consistent with SiO₂.Our presolar grains are much more Fe-rich than predicted by astronomical observations. Although secondary alteration may play a role in enhancing the Fe contents of presolar grains, it seems unlikely that the large and ubiquitous Fe enrichments observed in the grains from this study can be due only to secondary processing, particularly given the highly primitive nature of these two meteorites. Grain condensation in the stellar outflows where these grains formed likely proceeded under rapidly changing kinetic conditions that may have enhanced the incorporation of Fe into the grains over that expected based on equilibrium condensation theory.Both QUE 99177 and MET 00426 appear to contain unusually low abundances of oxide grains and have higher silicate/oxide ratios than other primitive meteorites analyzed to date. We explore various possibilities for this discrepancy, but note that most scenarios are not likely to result in the preferential destruction of oxides relative to silicates. Thus, the highest silicate/oxide ratios, such as those observed in the CR chondrites, should reflect the true initial proportions of presolar silicate and oxide grains in the parent molecular cloud from which the solar nebula evolved.     

Studies of classical barium stars

Using atmosphere models based on high-resolution spectra, we have derived the abundances of chemical elements in the atmospheres of seven classical barium stars and compared them with the elemental abundances of moderate barium stars and normal red giants. The behavior of elements up to the iron peak is the same in all three groups of giants, providing evidence that they have a common origin. The dependence of the anomalous abundances of s-process elements on stellar mass and metallicity is qualitatively similar for all three groups, probably indicating that a substantial role is played by the evolutionary phase of the stars. We conclude that the barium-star phenomenon and the overabundances of s-process elements in barium stars cannot be explained as a consequence of binarity alone. The extent to which the s-process elements are overabundant is affected by the mass, metallicity, and evolutionary phase of the given star, and any of these parameters may prove to be important in a specific object.     

Presolar spinel grains from the Murray and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites

With a new type of ion microprobe, the NanoSIMS, we determined the oxygen isotopic compositions of small (<1μm) oxide grains in chemical separates from two CM2 carbonaceous meteorites, Murray and Murchison. Among 628 grains from Murray separate CF (mean diameter 0.15 μm) we discovered 15 presolar spinel and 3 presolar corundum grains, among 753 grains from Murray separate CG (mean diameter 0.45 μm) 9 presolar spinel grains, and among 473 grains from Murchison separate KIE (mean diameter 0.5 μm) 2 presolar spinel and 4 presolar corundum grains. The abundance of presolar spinel is highest (2.4%) in the smallest size fraction. The total abundance in the whole meteorite is at least 1 ppm, which makes spinel the third-most abundant presolar grain species after nanodiamonds (if indeed a significant fraction of them are presolar) and silicon carbide. The O-isotopic distribution of the spinel grains is very similar to that of presolar corundum, the only statistically significant difference being that there is a larger fraction of corundum grains with large ¹⁷O excesses (¹⁷O/¹⁶O > 1.5 × 10⁻³), which indicates parent stars with masses between 1.8 and 4.5 M_⊙.     

Presolar grains from meteorites: Remnants from the early times of the solar system

This review provides an introduction to presolar grains - preserved stardust from the interstellar molecular cloud from which our solar system formed - found in primitive meteorites. We describe the search for the presolar components, the currently known presolar mineral populations, and the chemical and isotopic characteristics of the grains and dust-forming stars to identify the grains’ most probable stellar sources.     

Analysis of atmospheric abundances in classical barium stars

We present our analysis of elemental abundances in the atmospheres of 16 classical barium stars derived from high-resolution spectra and model atmospheres. Comparison of the results with analogous data for moderate barium stars and normal red giants shows that the abundance patterns for elements before the iron peak are the same for all three groups of red giants, testifying to a similar origin. For binary systems, we confirm the influence of the orbital period and, hence, the component separation, on the overabundance of s-process elements. The amount of enrichment in s-process elements is also influenced by mass, metallicity, and evolutionary phase. Any of these parameters can be important in individual objects.     

Correlated nucleosynthetic isotopic variability in Cr, Sr, Ba, Sm, Nd and Hf in Murchison and QUE 97008

Acid leaching of the primitive C-chondrite Murchison and O-chondrite QUE 97008 reveal nucleosynthetic anomalies in Cr, Sr, Ba, Nd, Sm and Hf. The anomalies in all but Cr and Sm are best explained by variable additions of pure s-process nuclides to a background nebular composition slightly enriched in r-process isotopes compared to average Solar System material. Leaching leaves a residue in Murchison that is strongly enriched in s-process nuclides with depletions of over 0.1% in ¹³⁵Ba and seven parts in 10,000 in ⁸⁴Sr. If there are p-process anomalies in these two elements, they are lost in the variability caused by different r-, s-process contributions to the normalizing isotopes. The concentration and isotope systematics are consistent with the Ba and Sr isotopic composition in the Murchison residue being strongly influenced by s-process-rich presolar SiC. In general, the nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies are 2- to 5-fold smaller in QUE 97008 than in Murchison. The different magnitudes of isotope anomalies are similar to the difference in matrix abundance between CM and O chondrites consistent with the suggestion that the carriers of nucleosynthetically anomalous material preferentially reside in the matrix and that some of this material has been distributed throughout the O-chondrite minerals as a result of thermal metamorphism.Neodymium, Sm and Hf display variable s-, r-process nuclide abundances as in Ba and Sr, but the anomalies are much smaller (e.g. ε¹⁴⁸Nd, ε¹⁴⁸Sm = −5.7, 2.1, respectively, in Murchison and −0.43, 0.16, respectively in QUE 97008 residues). After correcting Nd and Sm for s-, r-process variability, Sm in whole rock chondrites shows variable relative abundances of the p-process isotope ¹⁴⁴Sm that correlate weakly with ¹⁴²Nd suggesting that the direct p-process contribution to ¹⁴²Nd is small (∼7-9%). Nucleosynthetic variability in Nd explains the range in ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd seen between C and O, E-chondrites, but not the difference between chondrites and all modern Earth rocks, leaving decay of ¹⁴⁶Sm and a superchondritic Sm/Nd ratio as the likely explanation for Earth’s high ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd.     

Identification of isotopically primitive interplanetary dust particles: A NanoSIMS isotopic imaging study

We have carried out a comprehensive survey of the isotopic compositions (H, B, C, N, O, and S) of a suite of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), including both cluster and individual particles. Isotopic imaging with the NanoSIMS shows the presence of numerous discrete hotspots that are strongly enriched in ¹⁵N, up to ∼1300‰. A number of the IDPs also contain larger regions with more modest enrichments in ¹⁵N, leading to average bulk N isotopic compositions that are ¹⁵N-enriched in these IDPs. Although C isotopic compositions are normal in most of the IDPs, two ¹⁵N-rich hotspots have correlated ¹³C anomalies. CN⁻/C⁻ ratios suggest that most of the ¹⁵N-rich hotspots are associated with relatively N-poor carbonaceous matter, although specific carriers have not been determined. H isotopic distributions are similar to those of N: D anomalies are present both as distinct D-rich hotspots and as larger regions with more modest enrichments. Nevertheless, H and N isotopic anomalies are not directly correlated, consistent with results from previous studies. Oxygen isotopic imaging shows the presence of abundant presolar silicate grains in some of the IDPs. The O isotopic compositions of the grains are similar to those of presolar oxide and silicate grains from primitive meteorites. Most of the silicate grains in the IDPs have isotopic ratios consistent with meteoritic Group 1 oxide grains, indicating origins in oxygen-rich red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars, but several presolar silicates exhibit the ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O enrichments of Group 4 oxide grains, whose origin is less well understood. Based on their N isotopic compositions, the IDPs studied here can be divided into two groups. One group is characterized as being “isotopically primitive” and consists of those IDPs that have anomalous bulk N isotopic compositions. These particles typically also contain numerous ¹⁵N-rich hotspots, occasional C isotopic anomalies, and abundant presolar silicate grains. In contrast, the other “isotopically normal” IDPs have normal bulk N isotopic compositions and, although some contain ¹⁵N-rich hotspots, none exhibit C isotopic anomalies and none contain presolar silicate or oxide grains. Thus, isotopically interesting IDPs can be identified and selected on the basis of their bulk N isotopic compositions for further study. However, this distinction does not appear to extend to H isotopic compositions. Although both H and N anomalies are frequently attributed to the survival of molecular cloud material in IDPs and, thus, should be more common in IDPs with anomalous bulk N compositions, D anomalies are as common in normal IDPs as they are in those characterized as isotopically primitive, based on their N isotopes.     

Volatilization kinetics of silicon carbide in reducing gases: an experimental study with applications to the survival of presolar grains in the solar nebula

The volatilization kinetics of single crystal α-SiC, polycrystalline β-SiC, and SiO₂ (cristobalite or glass) were determined in H₂-CO₂, CO-CO₂, and H₂-CO-CO₂ gas mixtures at oxygen fugacities between 1 log unit above and 10 log units below the iron-wüstite (IW) buffer and temperatures in the range 1151 to 1501°C. Detailed sets of experiments on SiC were conducted at 2.8 and 6.0 log units below IW (IW-2.8 and IW-6.0) at a variety of temperatures, and at 1300°C at a variety of oxygen fugacities. Transmission electron microscopic and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopic characterization of run products shows that the surface of SiC exposed to IW-2.8 is characterized by a thin (<1 μm thick), continuous layer of cristobalite. SiC exposed to IW-6.0 lacks such a layer (or its thickness is <0.01 μm), although some SiO₂ was found within pits and along incised grain boundaries.In H₂-CO₂ gas mixtures above ∼IW-3, the similarity of the SiC volatilization rate and of its dependence on temperature and fO₂ to that for SiO₂ suggests that SiC volatilization is controlled by volatilization of a SiO₂ layer that forms on the surface of the SiC. With decreasing log fO₂ from ∼IW-3 to ∼IW-6, the SiC volatilization rate is constant at constant temperature, whereas that for SiO₂ increases. The independence of the SiC volatilization rate from the gas composition under these conditions suggests that the rate-controlling step is a solid-solid reaction at the internal SiC/SiO₂ interface. For gas compositions more reducing than ∼IW-6, the SiC volatilization rate increases with decreasing fO₂, with both bare SiC surfaces and perhaps silica residing in pits and along incised grain boundaries contributing to the overall reaction rate.If the volatilization mechanism and reaction rate in the solar nebula were the same as in our H₂-CO₂ experiments at IW-6.0, then estimated lifetimes of 1-μm-diameter presolar SiC grains range from several thousand years at ∼900°C, to ∼1 yr at 1100°C, ∼1 d at 1300°C, and ∼1 h at 1400°C. The corresponding lifetimes for 10-μm SiC grains would be an order of magnitude longer. If the supply of oxidants to surfaces of presolar SiC grains were rate limiting—for example, at T > 1100°C for P^tot= 10⁻⁶ atm and sticking coefficient = 0.01, then the calculated lifetimes would be about 10 yr for 10-μm-diameter grains, essentially independent of temperature. The results thus imply that presolar SiC grains would survive short heating events associated with formation of chondrules (minutes) and calcium-, aluminum-rich inclusions (days), but would have been destroyed by exposure to hot (≥900°C) nebular gases in less than several thousand years unless they were coated with minerals inert to reaction with a nebular gas.     

Stellar sources of the short-lived radionuclides in the early solar system

We discuss the possible stellar sources of short-lived radionuclides (SLRs) known to have been present in the early solar system (²⁶Al, ³⁶Cl, ⁴¹Ca, ⁵³Mn, ⁶⁰Fe, ¹⁰⁷Pd, ¹²⁹I, ¹⁸²Hf, ²⁴⁴Pu). SLRs produced primarily by irradiation (⁷Be, ¹⁰Be) are not discussed in this paper. We evaluate the role of the galactic background in explaining the inventory of SLRs in the early solar system. We review the nucleosynthetic processes that produce the different SLRs and place the processes in the context of stellar evolution of stars from 1 to 120 M_⊙. The ejection of newly synthesized SLRs from these stars is also discussed. We then examine the extent to which each stellar source can, by itself, explain the relative abundances of the different SLRs in the early solar system, and the probability that each source would have been in the right place at the right time to provide the SLRs. We conclude that intermediate-mass AGB stars and massive stars in the range from ∼20 to ∼60 M_⊙ are the most plausible sources. Low-mass AGB stars fail to produce enough ⁶⁰Fe. Core-collapse Type II supernovae from stars with initial masses of <20 M_⊙ produce too much ⁶⁰Fe and ⁵³Mn. Sources such as novae, Type Ia supernovae, and core-collapse supernovae of O-Ne-Mg white dwarfs do not appear to provide the SLRs in the correct proportions. However, intermediate-mass AGB stars cannot provide ⁵³Mn or the r-process elements, so if an AGB star provided the ⁴¹Ca, ³⁶Cl, ²⁶Al, ⁶⁰Fe, and ¹⁰⁷Pd, and if a late stellar source is required for ⁵³Mn and the r-process elements, then two types of sources would be required. A separate discussion of the production of r-process elements highlights the difficulties in modeling their production. There appear to be two sources of r-process elements, one that produces the heavy r-process elements, including the actinides, and one that produces the elements from N to Ge and the elements ∼110 < A < ∼130. These can be assigned to SNII explosions of stars of ?11 M_⊙ and stars of 12-25 M_⊙, respectively. More-massive stars, which leave black holes as supernova remnants, apparently do not produce r-process elements.     

Pristine presolar silicon carbide

We report the results of a study of 81 micrometer-sized presolar SiC grains in the size range 0.5-2.6 μm from the Murchison (CM2) carbonaceous chondrite. We describe a simple, nondestructive physical disaggregation technique used to isolate the grains while preserving them in their pristine state, as well as the scanning electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-ray mapping procedure used to locate them.Nine-tenths of the pristine SiCs are bounded by one or more planar surfaces consistent with cubic (3C polytype) crystal faces based on manifest symmetry elements. In addition, multiple polygonal depressions (generally <100 nm deep) are observed in more than half of these crystal faces, and these possess symmetries consistent with the structure of the 3C polytype of SiC. By comparison of these features with the surface features present on heavily etched presolar SiC grains from Murchison separate KJG, we show that the polygonal depressions on pristine grains are likely primary growth features. The etched SiCs have high densities of surface pits, in addition to polygonal depressions. If these pits are etched linear defects in the SiC, then defect densities are quite high (as much as 10⁸ -10⁹/cm²), about 10³-10⁴ times higher than in typical synthetic SiCs. The polygonal depressions on crystal faces of pristine grains, as well as the high defect densities, indicate rapid formation of presolar SiC.No other primary minerals are observed to be intergrown with or overgrown on the pristine SiCs, so the presence of overgrowths of other minerals cannot be invoked to account for the survival of presolar SiC in the solar nebula. We take the absence of other primary condensates to indicate that further growth or back-reaction with the gas became kinetically inhibited as the gas-phase densities in the expanding asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stellar atmospheres (in which most of the grains condensed) became too low. However, we did observe an oxygen peak in the X-ray spectra of most pristine grains, implying silica coatings of as much as several tens of nm thickness, perhaps due to oxidation of the SiC in the solar nebula.We see little or no evidence on the pristine grains of the surface sputtering or cratering that are predicted theoretically to occur in the interstellar medium (ISM) due to supernova shocks. A possible implication is that the grains may have been protected during their residence in the ISM by surface coatings, including simple ices. Residues of such coatings may indeed be present on some pristine SiCs, because many (60%) are coated with an apparently amorphous, possibly organic phase. However, at present we do not have sufficient data on the coatings to draw secure inferences as to their nature or origin.A few irregular pristine SiCs, either fragments produced by regolith gardening on the Murchison parent body or by grain-grain collisions in the ISM, were also observed.     

陨石中前太阳颗粒及其所携带惰性气体的原始同位素异常研究进展

从球粒陨石的酸不溶残渣中分离出了携带有惰性气体同位素异常的金刚石、碳化硅和石墨颗粒。这些同位素异常用太阳系内部过程是无法解释的，它们被归因于太阳系外多种核合成组分的不完全混合，称为原始惰性气体同位素异常，这三种矿物颗粒被称为前太阳颗粒。介绍了这三种前太阳颗粒的分离过程、存在部位、粒度大小、所携带惰性气体组分的同位素组成，以及这些惰性气体和携带物的成因，并对它们的科学意义进行了简要的讨论。