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Meteoritic silicon carbide and its stellar sources; implications for galactic chemical evolution

Nature volume 339, pages 351–354 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

Interstellar silicon carbide grains in meteorites provide a novel means for studying the carbon-star population of about 5 × 109 years ago. Their 12C/13C ratios differ greatly from the solar value but resemble those of present-day carbon stars, implying little change in the galactic 13C inventory. Isotope data on nitrogen and silicon suggest that the silicon carbide grains come mainly from red giants, with small contributions from novae.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Tang Ming

    Present address: Department of Management Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-0424, USA

  2. Peter Hoppe

    Present address: Physikalisches Institut der Universitat, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Enrico Fermi Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637-1433, USA

    Tang Ming & Edward Anders

  2. McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences and Department of Physics, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, 63130, USA

    Tang Ming, Peter Hoppe & Ernst Zinner

  3. Department of Management Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-0424, USA

    Peter Hoppe

Authors
  1. Tang Ming
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  2. Edward Anders
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  3. Peter Hoppe
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  4. Ernst Zinner
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Ming, T., Anders, E., Hoppe, P. et al. Meteoritic silicon carbide and its stellar sources; implications for galactic chemical evolution. Nature 339, 351–354 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/339351a0

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