Speaker:
Rhonda Stroud, Naval Research Lab

Title:
"Stardust under the microscope"

Abstract:
New solar systems form from the dusty residue of older stars. Most of the dust that was the raw material for the formation of our solar system was heavily processed in the early solar nebula, and all record of the prior stellar origin was erased. Some grains escaped heavy processing and retain the isotopic, chemical and structural record of their presolar origin. By analyzing the structure of the presolar grains [1], we learn about stellar atmospheres, the recycling of old stars into new, and the evolution of the composition of the galaxy. [1] Stroud, Nittler and Alexander, “Polymorphism in Presolar Al2O3 Grains from Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars”, Science, September 3, 2004.

Host:
Charles Kankelbor