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

所有的重元素都是在恒星中产生的。核合成的标志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。 该项目将通过测量从陨石中获得的星际颗粒和其他原始物质，研究恒星位置与太阳系物质之间的联系。 将通过测量放射性核素来确定影响太阳星云的过程的年表。 太阳前颗粒中的Th/U测量可以让我们看到太阳星云之前数十亿年的银河系化学演化。

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.