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129I and 247Cm in meteorites constrain the last astrophysical source of solar r-process elements.

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Title: 129I and 247Cm in meteorites constrain the last astrophysical source of solar r-process elements.
Authors: Côté, Benoit, Eichler, Marius, López, Andrés Yagüe, Vassh, Nicole, Mumpower, Matthew R., Világos, Blanka, Soós, Benjámin, Arcones, Almudena, Sprouse, Trevor M., Surman, Rebecca, Pignatari, Marco, Peto, Mária K., Wehmeyer, Benjamin, Rauscher, Thomas, Lugaro, Maria
Source: Science (pre-March 2025). 2/26/2021, Vol. 371 Issue 6532, p945-948. 4p. 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart.
Subjects: Solar system, Planetary systems, Meteorites, Neutron capture, Nuclear physics
Abstract: The composition of the early Solar System can be inferred from meteorites. Many elements heavier than iron were formed by the rapid neutron capture process (r-process), but the astrophysical sources where this occurred remain poorly understood. We demonstrate that the near-identical half-lives (−~15:6 million years) of the radioactive r-process nuclei iodine-129 and curium-247 preserve their ratio, irrespective of the time between production and incorporation into the Solar System. We constrain the last r-process source by comparing the measured meteoritic ratio 129I/247Cm = 438 ± 184 with nucleosynthesis calculations based on neutron star merger and magneto-rotational supernova simulations. Moderately neutron-rich conditions, often found in merger disk ejecta simulations, are most consistent with the meteoritic value. Uncertain nuclear physics data limit our confidence in this conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:The composition of the early Solar System can be inferred from meteorites. Many elements heavier than iron were formed by the rapid neutron capture process (r-process), but the astrophysical sources where this occurred remain poorly understood. We demonstrate that the near-identical half-lives (−~15:6 million years) of the radioactive r-process nuclei iodine-129 and curium-247 preserve their ratio, irrespective of the time between production and incorporation into the Solar System. We constrain the last r-process source by comparing the measured meteoritic ratio 129I/247Cm = 438 ± 184 with nucleosynthesis calculations based on neutron star merger and magneto-rotational supernova simulations. Moderately neutron-rich conditions, often found in merger disk ejecta simulations, are most consistent with the meteoritic value. Uncertain nuclear physics data limit our confidence in this conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00368075
DOI:10.1126/science.aba1111