Aluminum-26 in the early solar system: Fossil or fuel
The isotopic composition of Mg was measured in different phases of a Ca-Al rich inclusion in the Allende meteorite. Large excesses of /sup 26/Mg of up to 10% were found. These excesses correlate strictly with the /sup 27/Al//sup 24/Mg for four coexisting phases with distinctive chemical compositions. Models of in situ decay of /sup 26/Al within the solar system and of mixing of interstellar dust grains containing fossil /sup 26/Al with normal solar system material are presented. The observed correlation provides definitive evidence for the presence of /sup 26/Al in the early solar system. This requires either injection of freshly synthesized nucleosynthetic material into the solar system immediately before condensation and planet formation, or local production within the solar system by intense activity of the early Sun. Planets promptly produced from material with the inferred /sup 26/Al//sup 27/Al would melt within approx.3 x 10/sup 5/ yr.
- Research Organization:
- The Lunatic Asylum, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology
- OSTI ID:
- 7120368
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Vol. 211:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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