The Solar Nebula on Fire: A Solution to the Carbon Deficit in the Inner Solar System

Details The Solar Nebula on Fire: A Solution to the Carbon Deficit in the Inner Solar System The Solar Nebula on Fire: A Solution to the Carbon Deficit in the Inner Solar System

2010-01-06

arxiv.org/abs/1001.0818v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

To appear in ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

Despite a surface dominated by carbon-based life, the bulk composition of the Earth is dramatically carbon poor when compared to the material available at formation. Bulk carbon deficiency extends into the asteroid belt representing a fossil record of the conditions under which planets are born. The initial steps of planet formation involve the growth of primitive sub-micron silicate and carbon grains in the Solar Nebula. We present a solution wherein primordial carbon grains are preferentially destroyed by oxygen atoms ignited by heating due to stellar accretion at radii < 5 AU. This solution can account for the bulk carbon deficiency in the Earth and meteorites, the compositional gradient within the asteroid belt, and for growing evidence for similar carbon deficiency in rocks surrounding other stars.

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