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Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae

Nearby supernova explosions may cause geological isotope anomalies via the direct deposition of debris or by cosmic-ray spallation in the earth's atmosphere. We estimate the mass of material deposited terrestrially by these two mechanisms, showing the dependence on the supernova distance. A num...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ellis, John R., Fields, Brian D., Schramm, David N.
Lenguaje:eng
Publicado: 1996
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://dx.doi.org/10.1086/177945
http://cds.cern.ch/record/303599
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author Ellis, John R.
Fields, Brian D.
Schramm, David N.
author_facet Ellis, John R.
Fields, Brian D.
Schramm, David N.
author_sort Ellis, John R.
collection CERN
description Nearby supernova explosions may cause geological isotope anomalies via the direct deposition of debris or by cosmic-ray spallation in the earth's atmosphere. We estimate the mass of material deposited terrestrially by these two mechanisms, showing the dependence on the supernova distance. A number of radioactive isotopes are identified as possible diagnostic tools, such as Be-10, Al-26, Cl-36, Mn-53, Fe-60, and Ni-59, as well as the longer-lived I-129, Sm-146, and Pu-244. We discuss whether the 35 and 60 kyr-old Be-10 anomalies observed in the Vostok antarctic ice cores could be due to supernova explosions. Combining our estimates for matter deposition with results of recent nucleosynthesis yields, we calculate the expected signal from nearby supernovae using ice cores back to \sim 300 kyr ago, and we discuss using deep ocean sediments back to several hundred Myr. In particular, we examine the prospects for identifying isotope anomalies due to the Geminga supernova explosion, and signatures of the possibility that supernovae might have caused one or more biological mass extinctions.
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spelling cern-3035992023-10-20T02:35:55Zdoi:10.1086/177945http://cds.cern.ch/record/303599engEllis, John R.Fields, Brian D.Schramm, David N.Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovaeAstrophysics and AstronomyNearby supernova explosions may cause geological isotope anomalies via the direct deposition of debris or by cosmic-ray spallation in the earth's atmosphere. We estimate the mass of material deposited terrestrially by these two mechanisms, showing the dependence on the supernova distance. A number of radioactive isotopes are identified as possible diagnostic tools, such as Be-10, Al-26, Cl-36, Mn-53, Fe-60, and Ni-59, as well as the longer-lived I-129, Sm-146, and Pu-244. We discuss whether the 35 and 60 kyr-old Be-10 anomalies observed in the Vostok antarctic ice cores could be due to supernova explosions. Combining our estimates for matter deposition with results of recent nucleosynthesis yields, we calculate the expected signal from nearby supernovae using ice cores back to \sim 300 kyr ago, and we discuss using deep ocean sediments back to several hundred Myr. In particular, we examine the prospects for identifying isotope anomalies due to the Geminga supernova explosion, and signatures of the possibility that supernovae might have caused one or more biological mass extinctions.Nearby supernova explosions may cause geological isotope anomalies via the direct deposition of debris or by cosmic-ray spallation in the earth's atmosphere. We estimate the mass of material deposited terrestrially by these two mechanisms, showing the dependence on the supernova distance. A number of radioactive isotopes are identified as possible diagnostic tools, such as Be-10, Al-26, Cl-36, Mn-53, Fe-60, and Ni-59, as well as the longer-lived I-129, Sm-146, and Pu-244. We discuss whether the 35 and 60 kyr-old Be-10 anomalies observed in the Vostok antarctic ice cores could be due to supernova explosions. Combining our estimates for matter deposition with results of recent nucleosynthesis yields, we calculate the expected signal from nearby supernovae using ice cores back to $\sim 300$ kyr ago, and we discuss using deep ocean sediments back to several hundred Myr. In particular, we examine the prospects for identifying isotope anomalies due to the Geminga supernova explosion, and signatures of the possibility that supernovae might have caused one or more biological mass extinctions.astro-ph/9605128FERMILAB-PUB-95-157-ACERN-TH-95-64CERN-TH-95-64FERMILAB-PUB-95-157oai:cds.cern.ch:3035991996-05-20
spellingShingle Astrophysics and Astronomy
Ellis, John R.
Fields, Brian D.
Schramm, David N.
Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title_full Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title_fullStr Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title_full_unstemmed Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title_short Geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
title_sort geological isotope anomalies as signatures of nearby supernovae
topic Astrophysics and Astronomy
url https://dx.doi.org/10.1086/177945
http://cds.cern.ch/record/303599
work_keys_str_mv AT ellisjohnr geologicalisotopeanomaliesassignaturesofnearbysupernovae
AT fieldsbriand geologicalisotopeanomaliesassignaturesofnearbysupernovae
AT schrammdavidn geologicalisotopeanomaliesassignaturesofnearbysupernovae