Astrochemistry

The Nucleosynthetic Fingerprint of the Outermost Protoplanetary Disk and Early Solar System Dynamics

By Keith Cowing
Status Report
Science via PubMed
July 10, 2024
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The Nucleosynthetic Fingerprint of the Outermost Protoplanetary Disk and Early Solar System Dynamics
Petrology and composition of dark clasts from CR NWA 14250. Back scattered electron (BSE) images from (A) a large chondrule-containing clast and (B) a smaller clast without chondrules.– Science

Knowledge of the nucleosynthetic isotope composition of the outermost protoplanetary disk is critical to understand the formation and early dynamical evolution of the Solar System.

We report the discovery of outer disk material preserved in a pristine meteorite based on its chemical composition, organic-rich petrology, and 15N-rich, deuterium-rich, and 16O-poor isotope signatures. We infer that this outer disk material originated in the comet-forming region.

The nucleosynthetic Fe, Mg, Si, and Cr compositions of this material reveal that, contrary to current belief, the isotope signature of the comet-forming region is ubiquitous among outer Solar System bodies, possibly reflecting an important planetary building block in the outer Solar System.

This nucleosynthetic component represents fresh material added to the outer disk by late accretion streamers connected to the ambient molecular cloud. Our results show that most Solar System carbonaceous asteroids accreted material from the comet-forming region, a signature lacking in the terrestrial planet region.

The nucleosynthetic fingerprint of the outermost protoplanetary disk and early Solar System dynamics, PubMed

The nucleosynthetic fingerprint of the outermost protoplanetary disk and early Solar System dynamicsm Science Advances (open access)

Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology,

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻