An Even More Precise View of Aluminum-26 in the Solar Nebula

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An Even More Precise View of Aluminum-26 in the
Solar Nebula

• 26Al might have come from
• Active stars before the Solar System formed, or
• Radiation of dust near the young, active Sun
• Distinguishing between these choices requires
  precise measurements of Al and Mg isotopes to
  test whether 26Al was distributed uniformly in
  the Solar System
• Uniform 26Al distribution is also essential for
  its use as a chronometer

Wolf-Rayet star spewing stellar winds
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An Even More Precise View of Aluminum-26 in the
Solar Nebula
High-precision isotope data for 15 chondrules
(example on left) shows that they all lie on a
common growth line that assumes a uniform
26Al/27Al ratio of 5.2 x 10-5, the value in
calcium-aluminum-inclusions in primitive
chondrites.
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An Even More Precise View of Aluminum-26 in the
Solar Nebula