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Metastable Eutectic Equilibrium in Natural Environments: Recent Developments and Research OpportunitiesChemical ordering at metastable eutectics was recognized in non-equilibrium gas-to- solid condensation experiments to constrain 'silicate' dust formation in O-rich circumstellar environments. The predictable metastable eutectic behavior successfully predicted the observed ferromagnesiosilica, compositions of circumstellar dust, presolar and solar nebula grains in the matrix of the collected aggregate IDPs. Many of the experimentally determined metastable eutectic solids match the fundamental building blocks of common rock-forming layer silicates: this could have implications for the origin of Life. The physical conditions conducive to metastable eutectic behavior, i.e. high temperature and (ultra)fast quenching, lead to unique amorphous, typically nano- to micrometer-sized, materials. The new paradigm of metastable eutectic behavior opens the door to new and exciting research opportunities in uncovering the many implications of these unique amorphous and typically nano- to micrometer-sized, metastable eutectic materials.
Document ID
20000040457
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Rietmeijer, Fans J. M.
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM United States)
Nuth, Joseph A., II
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Jablonska, Mariola
(Silesia Univ. Sosnowiec Poland)
Karner, James M.
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 15, 2000
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-4441
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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