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Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination IV : Scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy analyses of impact features in the Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector
Author(s) -
Butterworth Anna L.,
Westphal Andrew J.,
Tyliszczak Tolek,
Gainsforth Zack,
Stodolna Julien,
Frank David R.,
Allen Carlton,
Anderson David,
Ansari Asna,
Bajt Saša,
Bastien Ron K.,
Bassim Nabil,
Bechtel Hans A.,
Borg Janet,
Brenker Frank E.,
Bridges John,
Brownlee Donald E.,
Burchell Mark,
Burghammer Manfred,
Changela Hitesh,
Cloetens Peter,
Davis Andrew M.,
Doll Ryan,
Floss Christine,
Flynn George,
Grün Eberhard,
Heck Philipp R.,
Hillier Jon K.,
Hoppe Peter,
Hudson Bruce,
Huth Joachim,
Hvide Brit,
Kearsley Anton,
King Ashley J.,
Lai Barry,
Leitner Jan,
Lemelle Laurence,
Leroux Hugues,
Leonard Ariel,
Lettieri Robert,
Marchant William,
Nittler Larry R.,
Ogliore Ryan,
Ong Wei Ja,
Postberg Frank,
Price Mark C.,
Sandford Scott A.,
Sans͂ Tresseras JuanAngel,
Schmitz Sylvia,
Schoonjans Tom,
Silversmit Geert,
Simionovici Alexandre S.,
Solé Vicente A.,
Srama Ralf,
Stadermann Frank J.,
Stephan Thomas,
Sterken Veerle J.,
Stroud Rhonda M.,
Sutton Steven,
Trieloff Mario,
Tsou Peter,
Tsuchiyama Akira,
Vekemans Bart,
Vincze Laszlo,
Von Korff Joshua,
Wordsworth Naomi,
Zevin Daniel,
Zolensky Michael E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/maps.12220
Subject(s) - ejecta , cosmic dust , interplanetary dust cloud , astrobiology , interstellar medium , physics , solar system , astrophysics , amorphous solid , chemistry , supernova , galaxy , organic chemistry
We report the quantitative characterization by synchrotron soft X‐ray spectroscopy of 31 potential impact features in the aerogel capture medium of the Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector. Samples were analyzed in aerogel by acquiring high spatial resolution maps and high energy‐resolution spectra of major rock‐forming elements Mg, Al, Si, Fe, and others. We developed diagnostic screening tests to reject spacecraft secondary ejecta and terrestrial contaminants from further consideration as interstellar dust candidates. The results support an extraterrestrial origin for three interstellar candidates: I1043,1,30 (Orion) is a 3 pg particle with Mg‐spinel, forsterite, and an iron‐bearing phase. I1047,1,34 (Hylabrook) is a 4 pg particle comprising an olivine core surrounded by low‐density, amorphous Mg‐silicate and amorphous Fe, Cr, and Mn phases. I1003,1,40 (Sorok) has the track morphology of a high‐speed impact, but contains no detectable residue that is convincingly distinguishable from the background aerogel. Twenty‐two samples with an anthropogenic origin were rejected, including four secondary ejecta from impacts on the Stardust spacecraft aft solar panels, nine ejecta from secondary impacts on the Stardust Sample Return Capsule, and nine contaminants lacking evidence of an impact. Other samples in the collection included I1029,1,6, which contained surviving solar system impactor material. Four samples remained ambiguous: I1006,2,18, I1044,2,32, and I1092,2,38 were too dense for analysis, and we did not detect an intact projectile in I1044,3,33. We detected no radiation effects from the synchrotron soft X‐ray analyses; however, we recorded the effects of synchrotron hard X‐ray radiation on I1043,1,30 and I1047,1,34.