Isotopic analysis of early solar system objects by an ion microprobe: Parametric studies and initial results

Magnesium, potassium and calcium isotope compositions in terrestrial samples and refractory phases from primitive meteorites are determined using an ion microprobe. A thorough investigation of the different instrument parameters is carried out to ensure that conditions necessary for high mass resolution and high precision isotopic studies are adequately satisfied. The instrument can be tuned to achieve mass resolution (M/ΔM) of up to 10,000 (M≤60); it has a very good dynamic stability (ΔB/B≤10 ppm over durations of ≤40 minutes) and the counting system has an effective dead-time of ≤25 nsec and a dynamic background of ≤0·01 c/s. Reproducibility and precision of isotopic measurements are checked by analyzing magnesium and titanium isotopic compositions in terrestrial standards and isotopically doped silicate glasses. A precision of 2‰ (2σ _m ) was achieved during magnesium isotopic analysis in samples with low Mg content (200 ppm). Results from studies of magnesium and potassium isotopic compositions in several Ca−Al-rich refractory inclusions (CAIs) from the primitive meteorites Efremovka and Grosnaja, representing some of the early solar system objects, are presented. The well-behaved Mg−Al isotopic systematics confirm the pristine nature of the Efremovka CAIs inferred earlier from petrographic and trace element studies. The Grosnaja CAIs that have experienced secondary alterations show disturbed magnesium isotopic systematics. Observation of excess²⁶Mg in several of the analyzed CAIs confirms the presence of the now extinct²⁶Al (t _1/2=7×10⁵ years) in the solar nebula at the time of CAI formation. Our data also suggest a relatively uniform distribution of²⁶Al in the solar nebula. Several Efremovka CAIs with excess²⁶Mg also have excess⁴¹K resulting from the decay of⁴¹Ca (t _1/2≃10⁵ years). This observation constrains the time interval between cessation of nucleosynthetic input to the solar nebula and the formation of some of the first solar system solids (CAIs) to less than a million years.     

行星状星云中CO(1-0)谱线发射的新观测

利用紫金山天文台青海观测站１３．７ｍ射电望远镜,对５个行星状星云给出了新的谱线观测结果。其中行星状星云Ｍ１－８和Ｍ３－３已探测到ＣＯ（２－１）的发射,给出了它们的ＣＯ（１－０）观测结果;为曾进行过ＣＯ观测,但未探测到ＣＯ发射的行星状星云Ｍ１－１２、Ｍ２－４３和ＮＧＣ６５３７,第一次证认了它们的ＣＯ（１－０）发射。     

Granoblastic olivine aggregates in magnesian chondrules: Planetesimal fragments or thermally annealed solar nebula condensates?

Granoblastic olivine aggregates (GOA) have been discovered in some Type I magnesian chondrules within carbonaceous chondrites by Libourel and Krot [Libourel, G., Krot, A.N., 2007. Evidence for the presence of planetesimal material among the precursors of magnesian chondrules of nebular origin. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 254, 1–8], who proposed an origin from pre-existing planetesimals. Amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOA), generally considered as aggregates of solar nebula condensates and found within similar carbonaceous chondrites, display similar equilibrium texture, though on a finer scale. For these reasons, we conducted experiments to determine if annealing of olivine required time scales appropriate to planetesimal or nebular heating. Pressed < 43 µm and < 63 µm San Carlos olivine powder (Fo_88.4) was isothermally heated at temperatures ranging from 1350–1550 °C for 1–100 h. The 100 h runs yield olivine aggregates with well-developed granoblastic texture at all temperatures, manifest as a network of randomly-oriented and sutured olivine grains with 120° triple junctions. Individual olivine grains are 4–6 sided and polygonal by 1450 °C and equigranular texture is developed at high temperature (1500–1550 °C). Melting of olivine commences at 1450–1500 °C and aids in ‘ripening’ and suturing (grain coarsening and grain boundary migration). Textural equilibrium is clearly met at 1550 °C. A planetesimal origin cannot be ruled out; however, the experimental evidence reveals that granoblastic texture can be reproduced in an interval not inconsistent with heating times for nebular objects. GOA may have experienced higher degrees of thermal processing than the finer-grained AOA. If the precursors were the same, grain coarsening would have to be accompanied by modification to bulk and isotopic compositions. However, the precursors could have been olivine condensates formed later than AOA. Annealing may have been a widespread process operating in the primordial solar nebula responsible for thermal processing and formation of GOA prior to their incorporation into chondrules.     

Origin of 16O-rich fine-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusions of different mineralogy and texture

A coordinated mineralogical and oxygen isotopic study of four fine-grained calcium-, aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) from the ALHA77307 CO3.0 carbonaceous chondrite was conducted. Three of the inclusions studied, 05, 1-65, and 2-119, all have nodular structures that represent three major groups, melilite-rich, spinel-rich, and hibonite-rich, based on their primary core mineral assemblages. A condensation origin was inferred for these CAIs. However, the difference in their primary core mineralogy reflects unique nebular environments in which multiple gas-solid reactions occurred under disequilibrium conditions to form hibonite, spinel, and melilite with minor perovskite and Al,Ti-rich diopside. A common occurrence of a diopside rim on the CAIs records a widespread event that marks the end of their condensation as a result of isolation from a nebular gas. An exception is a rare inclusion 2-112 that contains euhedral spinel crystals embedded in melilite, suggesting this CAI had been re-melted. All of the fine-grained CAIs analyzed in ALHA77307 are ¹⁶O-rich with an average Δ¹⁷O value of ∼−22 ± 5‰ (2σ), indicating no apparent correlation between their textures and oxygen isotopic compositions. We therefore conclude that a prevalent ¹⁶O-rich gas reservoir existed in a region of the solar nebula where CO3 fine-grained CAIs formed, initially by condensation and then later, some of them were reprocessed by melting event(s).     

中国南极球粒陨石的高精度钾同位素研究

钾和其他中等挥发性元素亏损是类地行星普遍的全岩化学成分特征之一,能用来示踪不同的亏损过程。球粒陨石是组成行星的前体物质,研究球粒陨石中钾同位素的亏损和分异机制,对于太阳系物质或行星的起源、形成和演化具有十分重要的意义。本文利用近年来发展的高精度钾同位素分析技术,测试了14个中国南极陨石以及6个目击型陨石(Murchison、Allende、Ningqiang、Tagish Lake、Xinyang和Banma)的全岩钾同位素组成。结果显示,21个碳质球粒陨石全岩δ⁴¹K值分布范围为-0.62‰±0.05‰至0.37‰±0.08‰,平均值为-0.32‰±0.24‰(2SD),比全岩硅酸盐地球(BSE)稍重。18个普通球粒陨石全岩数据(如果异常值GRV 021603除外)的δ⁴¹K值分布范围为-1.02‰±0.05‰到-0.61‰±0.02‰,平均δ⁴¹K值为-0.81‰±0.15‰(2SD),比全岩硅酸盐地球稍轻。2个目击型陨石Murchison(CM2型)和Allende(CV3型),呈现较大的内部钾同位素差异(分别为0...     

20个激变变星或相关天体的分光证认

在２０个研究得很少的激变变星或者曾经被分类为激变变星的相关天体的光谱中,１３个被证实为属于激变变星（６５％）,另外７个似乎应该被排除（表１第８列）,不像其他研究者那样,仅给出非激变变星或热天体,还以更强的证据和更多的光谱特征征认出１个ＤＡ型白矮星,４个双星系统及其子星的光谱型。新的光谱资料不支持ＦＹ Ｐｅｒ的Ｈｅｒｂｉｇ Ａｅ／Ｂｅ分类,它是一个激变变星。对于ＰＧ１７１２＋４９３,不仅给出星和云的     

陨石学及天体化学研究某些新进展

陨石是来自含气体-尘粒的太阳早期星云盘凝聚和吸积的原始物质,大多数原始物质因吸积后的作用过程而改变（如月球、地球及火星样品）,但有一些却完整的保存下来（如球粒陨石或球粒陨石中的难熔包体）。这些原始的物质通常依据同位素丰度特征来识别,依据其矿物-岩石学特征和成因可将已知的陨石划分许多更小的类型。陨石学及天体化学的新近进展包括：新近识别的陨石群;发现新类型球粒陨石及行星际尘粒中发现前太阳和星云组分;利用短寿命放射性核素完善了早期太阳系年代学;洞察宇宙化学丰度、分馏作用及星云源区及通过次生母体的作用过程阐释星云和前星云的记录。本文概述了早期太阳系内从星云到陨石的演化过程。依据这些资料,对早期太阳系所经历的多种核合成的输入、瞬时加热事件与星云动力学有一些新的认识,以及认识到小星子和行星体系的演化比以前预期的更快速。     

富钙长石-橄榄石型包体与典型富Ca,Al包体的矿物岩石学特征对比研究

本文研究了2个富钙长石-橄榄石型包体和2个富黄长石-尖晶石型和富尖晶石-辉石型包体（分别来自宁强和南极格罗夫山碳质球粒陨石）的矿物岩石学特征,并对它们进行了对比。富钙长石-橄榄石型包体的矿物模式组成具有富橄榄石和缺失黄长石的特征,其可能是球粒和典型难熔包体之间的中间产物,是认识它们之间相互关系的钥匙。矿物岩石学特征表明富黄长石-尖晶石型和富尖晶石-辉石型包体可能是星云直接凝聚的产物,而富钙长石-橄榄石型包体经历过熔融结晶过程。富钙长石-橄榄石型包体的初始物质可能是富Al的球粒或含难熔组分的蠕虫状橄榄石集合体。矿物化学组成对比研究发现,GRV 022459-RI6中的尖晶石具有最富FeO的特征,表明包体的蚀变可能发生在高氧逸度的星云环境。     

On the X-ray image of the Crab nebula: comparison with Chandra observations

An axisymmetric model for the Crab nebula is constructed to examine the flow dynamics in the nebula. The model is based on that of Kennel & Coroniti, although we assume that the kinetic-energy-dominant wind is confined to an equatorial region. The evolution of the distribution function of the electron–positron plasma flowing out in the nebula is calculated. Given viewing angles, we reproduce an image of the nebula and compare it with the Chandra observation.
The reproduced image is not ring-like, but is rather 'lip-shaped'. It is found that the assumption of a toroidal field does not reproduce the Chandra image. We must assume that there is a disordered magnetic field with an amplitude as large as the mean toroidal field. In addition, the brightness contrast between the front and back sides of the ring cannot be reproduced if we assume that the magnetization parameter σ is as small as ∼10⁻³. The brightness profile along the semimajor axis of the torus is also examined. The non-dissipative, ideal-magnetohydrodynamic approximation in the nebula appears to break down.
We speculate that if the magnetic energy is released by some process that produces a turbulent field in the nebula flow and causes heating and acceleration – for example, by magnetic reconnection – then the present difficulties may be resolved (i.e. we can reproduce a ring image and a higher brightness contrast). Thus, the magnetization parameter σ can be larger than previously expected.     

H110α recombination-line emission and 4.8-GHz continuum emission in the Carina nebula

We present results from observations of H110 α recombination-line emission at 4.874 GHz and the related 4.8-GHz continuum emission towards the Carina nebula using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These data provide information on the velocity, morphology and excitation parameters of the ionized gas associated with the two bright H  ii regions within the nebula, Car I and Car II. They are consistent with both Car I and Car II being expanding ionization fronts arising from the massive star clusters Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16, respectively. The overall continuum emission distribution at 4.8 GHz is similar to that at lower frequencies. For Car I, two compact sources are revealed that are likely to be young H  ii regions associated with triggered star formation. These results provide the first evidence of ongoing star formation in the northern region of the nebula. A close association between Car I and the molecular gas is consistent with a scenario in which Car I is currently carving out a cavity within the northern molecular cloud. The complicated kinematics associated with Car II point to expansion from at least two different centres. All that is left of the molecular cloud in this region are clumps of dense gas and dust which are likely to be responsible for shaping the striking morphology of the Car II components.