STARDUST: Laboratory Examination

Roy Stephen Lewis
Senior Scientist
Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago

Friday, September 17, 2004

Some primitive meteorites have retained small quantities of microscopic dust grains that predate and survived, largely unaltered, the formation of our solar system. Identification and examination of these grains have a direct bearing on our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis, stellar dust formation, galactic dust survival, and chemical and physical conditions during and subsequent to the formation of the solar system.

Bio Sketch
Dr. Lewis received both his B.A. in Physics and his Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of California at Berkeley. At the University of Chicago he has been a Research Associate (1972 - 76), a Senior Research Associate (1976 - 89), and a Senior Scientist since 1989.

He received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement in 1988 and is a Fellow, Meteoritical Society and a Fellow, American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science also since 1988.

His research interests are primitive solar system materials, especially presolar grains, and their bearing on the history of the formation of the solar system and of the elements themselves. Isotopic analysis of the noble gases and, in collaboration with others, of other elements in specially separated and purified fractions from primitive meteorites. Other collaborations obtain TEM and HR-TEM information of these samples.

Outside interests include literature and photography.

SMSI Minutes. 17 Sept. 04.
Stardust laboratory examination by Roy Stephen Lewis.

President Bill Mikuska announced that Aurora University will offer graduate credit for microscopy education courses at Argonne Laboratory. Zaluzec & Zona are checking into providing microscopes for the students.

The Sandpaper issue has 2 articles by Ed Lebryk. Bob Jordan, WGN News, is pictured. He has a sand collection of 250 locations.

Lewis discussed non-terrestrial isotopes of Mo, Ti, Ne and other elements which are found in SiC and diamond grains in meteorite parts originating from asymptotic giant branch stars.

Respectfully submitted, Stan Schmidt, Recording Secretary, Pro Tem