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Title: Correlated Nitrogen and Carbon Anomalies in an Anhydrous Interplanetary Dust Particle - Implications for Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Accreted by the Prebiotic Earth

Abstract

Given the ubiquitous presence of H and N isotopic anomalies in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and their probable association with carbonaceous material, the lack of similar isotopic anomalies in C has been a major conundrum. We report here the first observation of correlated N and C isotopic anomalies in organic matter within an anhydrous IDP. The {sup 15}N composition of the anomalous region is the highest seen to date in an IDP and is accompanied by a moderate depletion in {sup 13}C. Our observations establish the presence of hetero-atomic organic compounds of presolar origin among the constant flux of carbonaceous material accreting to the terrestrial planets within IDPs. Theoretical models suggest that low temperature formation of organic compounds in cold interstellar molecular clouds does produce C and N fractionations, but it remains to be seen if these models can reproduce the specific effects we observe here.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
15016238
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JRNL-201533
Journal ID: ISSN 0193-4511; SCEHDK; TRN: US200512%%202
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 303; Other Information: Publication date is February 27, 2004; PDF-FILE: 16 ; SIZE: 2.2 MBYTES; PBD: 17 Dec 2003; Journal ID: ISSN 0193-4511
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; CARBON; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; CLOUDS; DUSTS; NITROGEN; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC MATTER; ORIGIN; PLANETS

Citation Formats

Floss, C, Stadermann, F J, Bradley, J P, Dai, Z, Bajt, S, and Graham, G. Correlated Nitrogen and Carbon Anomalies in an Anhydrous Interplanetary Dust Particle - Implications for Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Accreted by the Prebiotic Earth. United States: N. p., 2003. Web.
Floss, C, Stadermann, F J, Bradley, J P, Dai, Z, Bajt, S, & Graham, G. Correlated Nitrogen and Carbon Anomalies in an Anhydrous Interplanetary Dust Particle - Implications for Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Accreted by the Prebiotic Earth. United States.
Floss, C, Stadermann, F J, Bradley, J P, Dai, Z, Bajt, S, and Graham, G. 2003. "Correlated Nitrogen and Carbon Anomalies in an Anhydrous Interplanetary Dust Particle - Implications for Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Accreted by the Prebiotic Earth". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/15016238.
@article{osti_15016238,
title = {Correlated Nitrogen and Carbon Anomalies in an Anhydrous Interplanetary Dust Particle - Implications for Extraterrestrial Organic Matter Accreted by the Prebiotic Earth},
author = {Floss, C and Stadermann, F J and Bradley, J P and Dai, Z and Bajt, S and Graham, G},
abstractNote = {Given the ubiquitous presence of H and N isotopic anomalies in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and their probable association with carbonaceous material, the lack of similar isotopic anomalies in C has been a major conundrum. We report here the first observation of correlated N and C isotopic anomalies in organic matter within an anhydrous IDP. The {sup 15}N composition of the anomalous region is the highest seen to date in an IDP and is accompanied by a moderate depletion in {sup 13}C. Our observations establish the presence of hetero-atomic organic compounds of presolar origin among the constant flux of carbonaceous material accreting to the terrestrial planets within IDPs. Theoretical models suggest that low temperature formation of organic compounds in cold interstellar molecular clouds does produce C and N fractionations, but it remains to be seen if these models can reproduce the specific effects we observe here.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/15016238}, journal = {Science},
issn = {0193-4511},
number = ,
volume = 303,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2003},
month = {Wed Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2003}
}