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Discovery of nuclear tracks in interplanetary dustNuclear tracks have been identified in interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) collected from the stratosphere. The presence of tracks unambiguously confirms the extraterrestrial nature of IDP's, and the high track densities (10 to the 10th to 10 to the 11th per square centimeter) suggest an exposure age of approximately 10,000 years within the inner solar system. Tracks also provide an upper temperature limit for the heating of IDP's during atmospheric entry, thereby making it possible to distinguish between pristine and thermally modified micrometeorites.
Document ID
19850035588
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bradley, J. P.
(Walter C. McCrone Associates, Inc. Chicago, IL, United States)
Brownlee, D. E.
(Washington, University Seattle, WA, United States)
Fraundorf, P.
(Monsanto Electronics Materials Co.; Washington University St. Louis, MO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 21, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 226
ISSN: 0036-8075
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
85A17739
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-9052
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF DMR-83-06501
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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