The origin of short-lived radioisotopes in the Solar System – Dr Richard Parker

This talk was part of the UH Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR) 2023-2024 seminar series. For the ongoing programme, please see: https://www.herts.ac.uk/research/cent...

Date: 10 January 2024
Speaker: Dr Richard Parker – University of Sheffield
Title: The origin of short-lived radioisotopes in the Solar System

Abstract: Some of the oldest objects in the Solar System contain the decay products of two short-lived radioisotopes (SLRs), 26-Al and 60-Fe. These SLRs are much more abundant in the early Solar System than in the Interstellar Medium (ISM), suggesting that the Sun (and its protoplanetary disc) was either enriched in SLRs early in its life, or formed from material that was already enriched to levels in excess of the ISM. In this talk, I will discuss the origin of these SLRs, and the pros and cons for the various theories that explain how 26-Al and 60-Fe ended up in the Solar System.