The presence of Sm-146 in the early solar system and implications for its nucleosynthesis

A correlation of Nd-142/Nd-144 with Sm-144/Nd-144 in two meteorites which have a large range in Sm-144/Nd-144 in their constituent mineral phases is presented as evidence for the presence of the p-process nucleus Sm-146 in the early solar system and its alpha-decay into Nd-142. The ratio Sm-146/Sm-144 is estimated to be about 0.015 at the time of solar system formation, 4.56 AE ago. It is suggested that the abundance of Sm-146 is compatible with p-proc ess production rate estimates, but not with the production rate for Sm-146 based on a photodisintegration model for the production of p-process nuclides.