Isotopic signatures of presolar materials in
interplanetary dust
Interplanetary dust particles collected in the stratosphere frequently exhibit enrichments in deuterium (D) and 15N relative to terrestrial materials. These effects are most likely due to the preservation of presolar interstellar materials. While the elevated D/H ratios probably resulted from mass fractionation during chemical reactions at very low <100 K temperatures, the origin of the N isotopic anomalies remains unresolved. The bulk of the N-bearing material may have obtained its isotopic signatures from low temperature chemistry, but a nucleosynthetic origin is also possible.
Messenger et al. (2003) Space Science Reviews 106, 155-172.
Full publication: 2003_SSR106_155.pdf
Last revised: 12-2003