Mechanism of supernovae contributed to solar system and the origin of heavy elements

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14535
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 17010:Space and planetary sciences-related
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Fukai Ryota 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 特任助教 (10848469)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 超新星爆発 / 元素合成 / 隕石

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Almost all elements in the solar system were synthesized in the other stellar environment before the birth of the solar system. It is unknown how heavy elements were transported to the solar system. In this study, we clarify the origin of heavy elements in the solar system, including the transport process.
First, we used numerical simulations to constrain the conditions of the particles that transported the heavy elements in the solar system. It was revealed that the inflow of presolar particles due to a supernova explosion in a weak turbulence situation can well explain the variation in the isotopic composition of carbonaceous meteorites. In addition, we developed a STEM equipped with a superconducting transition edge type X-ray microcalorimeter to measure the elemental abundances of presolar grains, and launched a method for evaluating the clean room environment.

Free Research Field

宇宙地球化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は惑星科学における小惑星物質組成の研究と、天文学における元素の進化の起源を、これまでに無かった視点で複合した学際的研究である。今後のサンプルリターン探査でも必要不可欠となる分析設備・分析装置の開発段階を担ったことも重要な意義である。