Researchers are a step closer to understanding the birth of the sun.
Published in Science, the team led by
Dr Maria Lugaro and Professor Alexander Heger, from Monash
University, have investigated the solar system's prehistoric phase
and the events that led to the birth of the sun.
Dr Lugaro, from the Monash Centre for
Astrophysics, said the team used radioactivity to date the last time
that heavy elements such as gold, silver, platinum, lead and
rare-earth elements were added to the solar system matter by the
stars that produced them.
"Using heavy radioactive nuclei
found in meteorites to time these final additions, we have got a
clearer understanding of the prehistory of the solar system," Dr
Lugaro said.
"We can now tell with confidence
the final one per cent of gold, silver and platinum, were added to
the solar system matter roughly 100 million years before the birth of
the sun.
"The final one per cent of lead
and rare-earth elements, such as those that make your smart phone,
was added much later - at most, 30 million years before the birth of
the sun."
Dr Lugaro said the detailed timing
opened up new opportunities to understand the series of events that
led to the formation of the sun.
Some time after the last addition of
heavy elements the solar system matter went into an 'incubation'
period, during which time the stellar nursery formed - where the sun
was born together with a number of other stars.
"We now know this incubation
period could not have lasted more than 30 million years. This offers
us the chance to determine the lifespan of the nursery where the sun
was born, how massive it was and how many stars were born there
together," Dr Lugaro said.
"Ultimately, we want to have a
clear understanding of the circumstances of the birth of our star and
the prehistory of the solar system.
"Understanding the timescales and
processes leading to the formation of our solar system is key to
relate its birth environment with that of other planetary systems in
the galaxy."
Dr Lugaro said the research team would
now be looking at other heavy radioactive nuclei to get more
understanding of the prehistory of the solar system, and improve the
accuracy and precision of the timing.
Dr Lugaro and Professor Heger completed
the research with the help of a third year student, Dean Osrin. It
also included researchers from the University of West Hungary, the
Universite' Libre de Bruxelles, the University of Dresden, the
Australian National University, and the University of Central
Lancashire.
For more information please contact
Rachael Fergusson, Monash Media & Communications +61 3 9903 4841
Contact: Rachael Fergusson
rachael.fergusson@monash.edu
61-399-034-841
Monash University
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