Deep-Sea and Lunar Radioisotopes from Nearby Astrophysical Explosions
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Live (not decayed) radioisotopes on the Earth and Moon are messengers from recent nearby astrophysical explosions. Measurements of 60Fe in deep-sea samples, Antarctic snow, and lunar regolith reveal two pulses about 3 Myr and 7 Myr ago. Detection of 244Pu in a deep-sea crust indicates a recent r-process event. We review the ultrasensitive accelerator mass spectrometry techniques that enable these findings. We then explore the implications for astrophysics, including supernova nucleosynthesis, particularly the r-process, as well as supernova dust production and the formation of the Local Bubble that envelops the Solar System. The implications go beyond nuclear physics and astrophysics to include studies of heliophysics, astrobiology, geology, and evolutionary biology.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 365-395 |
Number of pages | 31 |
Journal | Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2023 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- accelerator mass spectrometry, nucleosynthesis, r-process, supernovae