Published July 9, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article

Rare earth element nucleosynthetic anomalies and dust transport in the protoplanetary disk

  • 1. University of Chicago
  • 2. California Institute of Technology
  • 3. University of Cambridge
  • 4. Leiden University
  • 5. Victoria University of Wellington
  • 6. University of Bern

Description

The size, density, and chemical characteristics of solar system bodies have been shaped by material transport during the protoplanetary disk stage. This includes transport from the inner to outer solar system of refractory dust grains that carry nucleosynthetic anomalies. Here, we show that rare earth element (REE) isotopes in fine-grained calcium-aluminum–rich inclusions (CAIs) display anomalies stemming from incomplete mixing of r-, s-, and p-process nucleosynthesis. The data points define two correlations, which are best explained by mixing between three isotopic reservoirs in two successive stages, one of which involved a variable admixture of a p-process component. We propose that CAI precursors formed in the inner solar system and were subsequently transported by FU Orionis outbursts from the disk to the envelope where they mixed with an isotopically distinct reservoir before settling on the midplane.

Data availability

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/sciadv.adv3148
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:16200

Funding

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NNX17AE86G
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NNX17AE87G
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
80NSSC17K0744
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
80NSSC20K0821
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
80NSSC21K0380
European Research Council
101020665
Natural Environment Research Council
NE/V000411/1
Swiss National Science Foundation
200020_196955

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Physical Sciences Division
Department(s)
Enrico Fermi Institute, Geophysical Sciences