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Article
Isotopic Anomalies: Chemical Memory of Galactic Evolution
The Astrophysical Journal
  • Donald D Clayton, Clemson University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-1988
Publisher
The American Astronomical Society
Abstract

New mechanisms for the chemical memory of isotopic anomalies are proposed which are based on the temporal change during the chemical evolution of the Galaxy of the isotopic composition of the mean ejecta from stars. Because of the differing temporal evolution of primary and secondary products of nucleosynthesis, the isotopic composition of the bulk interstellar medium changes approximately linearly with time, and thus any dust component having an age different from that of average dust will be isotopically anomalous. Special attention is given to C, O, Mg, Si, and isotopically heavy average-stellar condensates of SiC.

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