Nucleosynthesis in stars: recent developments.
The development of new observational, experimental, and computational technologies is changing our understanding of the origins of the elements by thermonuclear burning in stars. Gamma-ray lines from newly made radioactive nuclei have been identified using instruments onboard low-Earth orbiting satellites. Grains in meteorites have isotopic anomalies which suggest that the grains were put together in a stellar explosion such as a supernova. Computer simulations allow such anomalies to be used to probe how these events happen. The simulations are being independently tested by experiments with high-energy density lasers. These developments are beginning to provide a quantitative diagnostic of galactic evolution, and of the epoch of formation of the first stars and galaxies.
Arnett
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Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. darnett@as.arizona.edu
Bazan
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D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004602:Elements; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D019110:Meteoroids; D009686:Nuclear Physics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D004602:Elements; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen