Chasing the Age of the First Stars
(2002) 18.- Abstract
- The ages of the oldest stars in the Galaxy indicate when star formationbegan, and provide a minimum age of the Universe. Radioactive dating ofmeteoritic material and stars relies on comparing the present abundanceratios of radioactive and stable nuclear species to the theoreticallypredicted ratios of their production. The radioisotope 232 Th (half life14 Gyr) has been used to date Galactic stars, but it decays by only afactor of two over the lifetime of the Universe. 238 U (half life 4.5Gyr) is a more precise age indicator. However, it has not until recently(Feb. 2001) been detected in stars. We report on the first detection ofU in a very metal-poor star. The derived age of 12.5 Gyr which isuncertain by 3 Gyr, is still to some extent model... (More)
- The ages of the oldest stars in the Galaxy indicate when star formationbegan, and provide a minimum age of the Universe. Radioactive dating ofmeteoritic material and stars relies on comparing the present abundanceratios of radioactive and stable nuclear species to the theoreticallypredicted ratios of their production. The radioisotope 232 Th (half life14 Gyr) has been used to date Galactic stars, but it decays by only afactor of two over the lifetime of the Universe. 238 U (half life 4.5Gyr) is a more precise age indicator. However, it has not until recently(Feb. 2001) been detected in stars. We report on the first detection ofU in a very metal-poor star. The derived age of 12.5 Gyr which isuncertain by 3 Gyr, is still to some extent model dependent. Theobservation of this cosmochronometer gives the most direct agedetermination of the Galaxy. With improved theoretical and laboratorydata, it will provide a highly precise lower limit to the age of theUniverse. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/527964
- author
- Nordström, Birgitta LU and al., et
- organization
- publishing date
- 2002
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Astronomische Gesellschaft Abstract Series, Vol. 18., Abstracts of Contributed Talks and Posters presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft at the Joint European and National Meeting JENAM 2001 of the European Astronomica
- volume
- 18
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 563d5227-9872-4c12-b986-a25f47f841ce (old id 527964)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 10:21:21
- date last changed
- 2021-11-15 11:36:33
@inproceedings{563d5227-9872-4c12-b986-a25f47f841ce,
abstract = {{The ages of the oldest stars in the Galaxy indicate when star formationbegan, and provide a minimum age of the Universe. Radioactive dating ofmeteoritic material and stars relies on comparing the present abundanceratios of radioactive and stable nuclear species to the theoreticallypredicted ratios of their production. The radioisotope 232 Th (half life14 Gyr) has been used to date Galactic stars, but it decays by only afactor of two over the lifetime of the Universe. 238 U (half life 4.5Gyr) is a more precise age indicator. However, it has not until recently(Feb. 2001) been detected in stars. We report on the first detection ofU in a very metal-poor star. The derived age of 12.5 Gyr which isuncertain by 3 Gyr, is still to some extent model dependent. Theobservation of this cosmochronometer gives the most direct agedetermination of the Galaxy. With improved theoretical and laboratorydata, it will provide a highly precise lower limit to the age of theUniverse.}},
author = {{Nordström, Birgitta and al., et}},
booktitle = {{Astronomische Gesellschaft Abstract Series, Vol. 18., Abstracts of Contributed Talks and Posters presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft at the Joint European and National Meeting JENAM 2001 of the European Astronomica}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
title = {{Chasing the Age of the First Stars}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2002}},
}