[VolatileOrigin] Tracing the origin and thermal evolution of planetary volatiles using germanium and zinc isotopes in meteorites
Ente: European Commission
Scadenza: 2028-09-30
Importo max: 247.553,28 EUR
Paese: EU
Descrizione
The Earth is the only known planet to support life, yet the discovery of numerous exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars suggests that habitable worlds may be common. Understanding the origin, accretion pathways, and thermal evolution histories of volatile elements in Earth and its precursor bodies is therefore essential to assessing the potential habitability of rocky planets. Nucleosynthetic isotope variations offer a unique tool to trace the building blocks of terrestrial planets, as they are largely unaffected by planetary processes. However, most previous studies have focused on nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies on refractory elements, which are not well-suited for constraining the origins of volatile elements.
This project aims to elucidate the volatile accretion and evolution of rocky planets and their potential habitability by examining nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies of moderately volatile elements germanium (Ge) and zinc (Zn). To achieve this goal, I will develop high-precision Ge and Zn isotope analysis protocols with the next-generation Neoma mass spectrometer and measure Ge and Zn isotopic compositions of an extensive meteorite collection, including iron meteorites, chondrites, terrestrial basalts, and achondrites, which represent multiple planetesimals and planetary bodies. Combining cosmochemical data and astrophysical models, this project will extend the Solar System’s isotope dichotomy to moderately volatile elements and define the volatile origin of Earth, Mars, Moon, and asteroids, as well as the thermal evolution of Solar System building blocks, and thereby contribute to our knowledge of the planet formation theory.
I will conduct this project with the guidance of Prof. Martin Bizzarro, a leading scholar in planetary science. This fellowship will equip me with vital expertise on volatile sources in planetary bodies and mark a crucial step toward my independent academic career.
Settori: cosmochemistry, meteorites, nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies, moderately volatile elements, planet accretion
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