Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the solar nebula

所有重元素都是在恒星中产生的。核合成的特征是元素的同位素组成，因此同位素组成的测量可以在实验室中阐明核天体物理学。该项目将通过测量星际颗粒和从陨石中获得的其他原始物质来研究恒星位置与我们太阳系中物质之间的联系。影响太阳星云的过程年表将通过放射性核素的测量来确定。前太阳颗粒的Th/U测量可以让我们看到在太阳星云形成之前数十亿年的星系化学演化。

All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material obtained from meteorites. A chronology of processes affecting the solar nebula will be determined through measurement of radionuclides. Th/U measurements in presolar grains could allow a view of galactic chemical evolution billions of years prior to the solar nebula.