Plutonium-244 in the early solar system

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (32) References (37) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Plutonium-244 in the early solar system? Drozd, R. J. ; Morgan, C. J. ; Podosek, F. A. ; Poupeau, G. ; Shirck, J. R. ; Taylor, G. T. Abstract This paper presents results of noble-gas, fission-track, and petrographic investigations of inclusions in the Allende meteorite, most notably a single large coarse-grained 'high temperature condensate' type inclusion. Discussion of the data focuses on the problem of whether or not Pu-244 actually was present in the early solar system, rather than being represented principally by fission xenon imported into the solar system in interstellar grains. The fission-xenon content of the large inclusion corresponds to a Pu-244/U-238 ratio of about 0.0161 at time of formation, 4.5 billion yr ago. Approximately 30% of this Pu-244 has produced visible fossil fission tracks in the major mineral phases; these decays must have occurred within the solar system, establishing a firm lower limit to the amount of Pu-244 which was present in the solar system. The actual value is almost certainly substantially greater than this lower limit. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1977 DOI: 10.1086/155076 Bibcode: 1977ApJ...212..567D Keywords: Abundance; Carbonaceous Chondrites; Meteoritic Composition; Planetary Evolution; Plutonium 244; Solar System; Fission; Inclusions; Interstellar Matter; Nuclear Fusion; Petrography; Rare Gases; Xenon; Lunar and Planetary Exploration full text sources ADS |