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Nitrogen in solar energetic particles: Isotopically distinct from solar wind
Author(s) -
Mathew K. J.,
Kerridge J. F.,
Marti K.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1998gl900181
Subject(s) - ilmenite , neon , isotopes of nitrogen , isotope , fractionation , solar wind , lunar soil , nitrogen , solar energetic particles , astrobiology , geology , mineralogy , chemistry , physics , coronal mass ejection , atomic physics , plasma , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , argon
Stepwise etching of lunar soil ilmenite grains reveals that the 15 N/ 14 N ratio of implanted nitrogen decreases with increasing implantation depth within the ilmenite grains, i.e., with increasing energy of implantation. These results show that N derived from solar energetic particles, N SEP , is enriched in the light isotope, 14 N, relative to solar‐wind nitrogen, N SW . This is in striking contrast to the neon isotopic record: Ne SEP is depleted in the light isotope, 20 Ne, relative to Ne SW . These data suggest either distinct signatures in the respective solar source regions, or fractionation in the acceleration mechanism(s). However, the observed opposite fractionation trends for light N and Ne isotopes do not agree with model predictions.