Stardust from Meteorites

The study of presolar meteoritic grains is a new inter-disciplinary field that brings together topics from nuclear physics to astronomy and chemistry. Traditionally, most of the information about the cosmos has been gathered by observing light through telescopes. However, with the recent discovery that some dust grains extracted from primitive meteorites were produced in stellar environments, we now have the opportunity to gather information about stars and our Galaxy from the laboratory analysis of tiny pieces of stardust. Stellar grains represent a unique and fascinating subject of study. Their analysis is a breakthrough in research on stellar nucleosynthesis and the origin of the elements. While a number of specialized reviews exist on the topic, this book is the first work that brings together in a unified and accessible manner the background knowledge necessary for the study of presolar grains together with up-to-date discoveries in the field. The book includes exercise questions and answers, an extensive glossary for easy reference, and more than 40 figures and tables — from schematic diagrams to electron microscope images and graphs of results from stellar grain measurements and theoretical stellar models. Contents:Meteoritic Presolar Grains and Their SignificanceBasics of Stellar NucleosynthesisLaboratory Analysis of Presolar GrainsThe Origin of Presolar SiC GrainsHeavy Elements in Presolar SiC GrainsDiamond, Graphite and Oxide Grains Readership: This book is intended as lecture notes for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. It can also be used as a source of reference for scientists from different disciplines who wish to apply their knowledge to this new inter-disciplinary field. Keywords:Stars;Elements;Isotopes;Abundances;Nucleosynthesis;Meteorites;Dust Grains;Nuclear ReactionsKey Features:The first book specifically dedicated to the 20-year-old study of presolar stellar grainsContains basic background material together with the most recent discoveriesPresents a simple but comprehensive description of the latest stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis theoriesQuotes most of the relevant bibliography related to stellar grains and hence can be used as a source of reference