An infrared spectral match between GEMS and interstellar grains

Science. 1999 Sep 10;285(5434):1716-8. doi: 10.1126/science.285.5434.1716.

Abstract

Infrared spectral properties of silicate grains in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) were compared with those of astronomical silicates. The approximately 10-micrometer silicon-oxygen stretch bands of IDPs containing enstatite (MgSiO3), forsterite (Mg2SiO4), and glass with embedded metal and sulfides (GEMS) exhibit fine structure and bandwidths similar to those of solar system comets and some pre-main sequence Herbig Ae/Be stars. Some GEMS exhibit a broad, featureless silicon-oxygen stretch band similar to those observed in interstellar molecular clouds and young stellar objects. These GEMS provide a spectral match to astronomical "amorphous" silicates, one of the fundamental building blocks from which the solar system is presumed to have formed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cosmic Dust*
  • Magnesium Silicates / chemistry*
  • Meteoroids
  • Silicates / chemistry*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared

Substances

  • Cosmic Dust
  • Magnesium Silicates
  • Silicates