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Koll D, Faestermann T, Korschinek G, Leya I, Merchel S, Wallner A. The Dyadic Radionuclide System 60Fe / 53Mn to Distinguish Interstellar from Interplanetary 60Fe. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202226011022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of live 60Fe in a deep-sea crust with proposed interstellar origin followed by evidence for elevated interplanetary 3He in the same crust raised the question on how to unambiguously identify the true production site of the identified 60Fe. Here, we show the implementation of the dyadic radionuclide system 60Fe / 53Mn to serve as a tool for the identification of surplus interstellar 60Fe over interplanetary production. The recent updates in experimental 60Fe and 53Mn data from iron meteorites as well as in production rate models confirm the validity and robustness of this dyadic system for future applications.
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Wallner A, Feige J, Fifield LK, Froehlich MB, Golser R, Hotchkis MAC, Koll D, Leckenby G, Martschini M, Merchel S, Panjkov S, Pavetich S, Rugel G, Tims SG. 60Fe deposition during the late Pleistocene and the Holocene echoes past supernova activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:21873-21879. [PMID: 32839339 PMCID: PMC7486756 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1916769117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclides synthesized in massive stars are ejected into space via stellar winds and supernova explosions. The solar system (SS) moves through the interstellar medium and collects these nucleosynthesis products. One such product is 60Fe, a radionuclide with a half-life of 2.6 My that is predominantly produced in massive stars and ejected in supernova explosions. Extraterrestrial 60Fe has been found on Earth, suggesting close-by supernova explosions ∼2 to 3 and ∼6 Ma. Here, we report on the detection of a continuous interstellar 60Fe influx on Earth over the past ∼33,000 y. This time period coincides with passage of our SS through such interstellar clouds, which have a significantly larger particle density compared to the local average interstellar medium embedding our SS for the past few million years. The interstellar 60Fe was extracted from five deep-sea sediment samples and accelerator mass spectrometry was used for single-atom counting. The low number of 19 detected atoms indicates a continued but low influx of interstellar 60Fe. The measured 60Fe time profile over the 33 ky, obtained with a time resolution of about ±9 ky, does not seem to reflect any large changes in the interstellar particle density during Earth's passage through local interstellar clouds, which could be expected if the local cloud represented an isolated remnant of the most recent supernova ejecta that traversed the Earth ∼2 to 3 Ma. The identified 60Fe influx may signal a late echo of some million-year-old supernovae with the 60Fe-bearing dust particles still permeating the interstellar medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wallner
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia;
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - J Feige
- Isotope Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator Laboratory, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - M B Froehlich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - R Golser
- Isotope Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator Laboratory, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - M A C Hotchkis
- Centre for Accelerator Science, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - D Koll
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - G Leckenby
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - M Martschini
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Isotope Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator Laboratory, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Merchel
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - S Panjkov
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - S Pavetich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - G Rugel
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Recent near-Earth supernovae probed by global deposition of interstellar radioactive (60)Fe. Nature 2016; 532:69-72. [PMID: 27078565 PMCID: PMC4892339 DOI: 10.1038/nature17196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The rate of supernovae (SNe) in our local galactic neighborhood within a distance of ~100 parsec from Earth (1 parsec (pc)=3.26 light years) is estimated at 1 SN every 2-4 million years (Myr), based on the total SN-rate in the Milky Way (2.0±0.7 per century1,2). Recent massive-star and SN activity in Earth’s vicinity may be evidenced by traces of radionuclides with half-lives t1/2 ≤100 Myr3-6, if trapped in interstellar dust grains that penetrate the Solar System (SS). One such radionuclide is 60Fe (t1/2=2.6 Myr)7,8 which is ejected in supernova explosions and winds from massive stars1,2,9. Here we report that the 60Fe signal observed previously in deep-sea crusts10,11, is global, extended in time and of interstellar origin from multiple events. Deep-sea archives from all major oceans were analyzed for 60Fe deposition via accretion of interstellar dust particles. Our results, based on 60Fe atom-counting at state-of-the-art sensitivity8, reveal 60Fe interstellar influxes onto Earth 1.7–3.2 Myr and 6.5–8.7 Myr ago. The measured signal implies that a few percent of fresh 60Fe was captured in dust and deposited on Earth. Our findings indicate multiple supernova and massive-star events during the last ~10 Myr at nearby distances ≤100 pc.
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Wallner A, Faestermann T, Feige J, Feldstein C, Knie K, Korschinek G, Kutschera W, Ofan A, Paul M, Quinto F, Rugel G, Steier P. Abundance of live ²⁴⁴Pu in deep-sea reservoirs on Earth points to rarity of actinide nucleosynthesis. Nat Commun 2015; 6:5956. [PMID: 25601158 PMCID: PMC4309418 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Half of the heavy elements including all actinides are produced in r-process
nucleosynthesis, whose sites and history remain a mystery. If continuously produced,
the Interstellar Medium is expected to build-up a quasi-steady state of abundances
of short-lived nuclides (with half-lives ≤100 My), including actinides
produced in r-process nucleosynthesis. Their existence in today’s
interstellar medium would serve as a radioactive clock and would establish that
their production was recent. In particular 244Pu, a radioactive
actinide nuclide (half-life=81 My), can place strong constraints on recent
r-process frequency and production yield. Here we report the detection of
live interstellar 244Pu, archived in Earth’s deep-sea
floor during the last 25 My, at abundances lower than expected from continuous
production in the Galaxy by about 2 orders of magnitude. This large discrepancy may
signal a rarity of actinide r-process nucleosynthesis sites, compatible with
neutron-star mergers or with a small subset of actinide-producing supernovae. The build-up of short-lived nuclides in the interstellar medium tells
us about production frequency and yield of heavy elements by nucleosynthesis. Wallner
et al. find a low abundance of live interstellar 244Pu detected from the
deep-sea floor, suggesting a rarity for r-process nucleosynthesis sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wallner
- 1] Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia [2] VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - T Faestermann
- Physik Department, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - J Feige
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - C Feldstein
- Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - K Knie
- 1] Physik Department, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany [2] GSI Helmholtz-Zentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Planckstrasse 1, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - G Korschinek
- Physik Department, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - W Kutschera
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - A Ofan
- Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - M Paul
- Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - F Quinto
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - G Rugel
- Physik Department, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - P Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Setting the stage for habitable planets. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:35-65. [PMID: 25370028 PMCID: PMC4187148 DOI: 10.3390/life4010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the processes that are relevant to the formation and maintenance of habitable planetary systems is advancing at a rapid pace, both from observation and theory. The present review focuses on recent research that bears on this topic and includes discussions of processes occurring in astrophysical, geophysical and climatic contexts, as well as the temporal evolution of planetary habitability. Special attention is given to recent observations of exoplanets and their host stars and the theories proposed to explain the observed trends. Recent theories about the early evolution of the Solar System and how they relate to its habitability are also summarized. Unresolved issues requiring additional research are pointed out, and a framework is provided for estimating the number of habitable planets in the Universe.
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Fitoussi C, Raisbeck GM, Knie K, Korschinek G, Faestermann T, Goriely S, Lunney D, Poutivtsev M, Rugel G, Waelbroeck C, Wallner A. Search for supernova-produced 60Fe in a marine sediment. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2008; 101:121101. [PMID: 18851357 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.101.121101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2007] [Revised: 02/05/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
An 60Fe peak in a deep-sea FeMn crust has been interpreted as due to the signature left by the ejecta of a supernova explosion close to the solar system 2.8+/-0.4 Myr ago [Knie, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 171103 (2004)10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.171103]. In an attempt to confirm this interpretation with better time resolution and obtain a more direct flux estimate, we measured 60Fe concentrations along a dated marine sediment. We find no 60Fe peak at the expected level from 1.7 to 3.2 Myr ago. Possible causes for the discrepancy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Fitoussi
- Centre de Spectrométrie Nucléaire et de Spectrométrie de Masse (CSNSM) IN2P3/CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 108, Orsay, France
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Thomas BC, Melott AL, Fields BD, Anthony-Twarog BJ. Superluminous supernovae: no threat from eta Carinae. ASTROBIOLOGY 2008; 8:9-16. [PMID: 18199005 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2007.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Recently, Supernova 2006gy was noted as the most luminous ever recorded, with a total radiated energy of approximately 10(44) Joules. It was proposed that the progenitor may have been a massive evolved star similar to eta Carinae, which resides in our own Galaxy at a distance of about 2.3 kpc. eta Carinae appears ready to detonate. Although it is too distant to pose a serious threat as a normal supernova, and given that its rotation axis is unlikely to produce a gamma-ray burst oriented toward Earth, eta Carinae is about 30,000 times nearer than 2006gy, and we re-evaluate it as a potential superluminous supernova. We have found that, given the large ratio of emission in the optical to the X-ray, atmospheric effects are negligible. Ionization of the atmosphere and concomitant ozone depletion are unlikely to be important. Any cosmic ray effects should be spread out over approximately 10(4) y and similarly unlikely to produce any serious perturbation to the biosphere. We also discuss a new possible effect of supernovae-e-ndocrine disruption induced by blue light near the peak of the optical spectrum. This is a possibility for nearby supernovae at distances too large to be considered "dangerous" for other reasons. However, due to reddening and extinction by the interstellar medium, eta Carinae is unlikely to trigger such effects to any significant degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Thomas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas 66621, USA.
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