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Radioactive 26Al from massive stars in the Galaxy

Author

Listed:
  • Roland Diehl

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Hubert Halloin

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Karsten Kretschmer

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Giselher G. Lichti

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Volker Schönfelder

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Andrew W. Strong

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Andreas von Kienlin

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Wei Wang

    (Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

  • Pierre Jean

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements and Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Jürgen Knödlseder

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements and Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Jean-Pierre Roques

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements and Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Georg Weidenspointner

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements and Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Stephane Schanne

    (DSM/DAPNIA/Service d'Astrophysique, CEA Saclay)

  • Dieter H. Hartmann

    (Clemson University)

  • Christoph Winkler

    (ESA/ESTEC, SCI-SD)

  • Cornelia Wunderer

    (Space Sciences Laboratory)

Abstract

Galactic elements The radioactive isotope aluminium-26 has a short half-life of about 720,000 years, so the fact that we can detect γ-rays characteristic of 26Al is a good indication that nucleosynthesis — the production of new atomic nuclei — is taking place in our Galaxy during the current epoch. Now a γ-ray survey by ESA's INTEGRAL space telescope has provided data of sufficiently high resolution to settle a long-running debate about where this nucleosynthesis takes place. The key finding is that the 26Al sources co-rotate with the Galaxy, supporting an origin from massive stars scattered throughout the Galaxy, rather than in localized star-forming regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Diehl & Hubert Halloin & Karsten Kretschmer & Giselher G. Lichti & Volker Schönfelder & Andrew W. Strong & Andreas von Kienlin & Wei Wang & Pierre Jean & Jürgen Knödlseder & Jean-Pierre Roques , 2006. "Radioactive 26Al from massive stars in the Galaxy," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7072), pages 45-47, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7072:d:10.1038_nature04364
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04364
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    Cited by:

    1. A. Spyrou & D. Richman & A. Couture & C. E. Fields & S. N. Liddick & K. Childers & B. P. Crider & P. A. DeYoung & A. C. Dombos & P. Gastis & M. Guttormsen & K. Hermansen & A. C. Larsen & R. Lewis & S., 2024. "Enhanced production of 60Fe in massive stars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.

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