http://arxiv.org/abs/2004.11379
There is evidence that ejecta from nearby supernovae have rained down on Earth in the past. Supernovae can accelerate pre-existing dust grains in the interstellar medium to speeds of $\sim 0.01 \mathrm{\;c}$. We investigate the survival and impact of dust grains from supernovae on the moon, finding that supernova dust grains can form detectable tracks with widths of $\sim 0.01 – 0.07 \mathrm{\; \mu m}$ and depths of $\sim 0.1 – 0.7 \mathrm{\; mm}$ in lunar rocks. These tracks could potentially shed light on the timings, luminosities, and directions of nearby supernovae.
A. Siraj and A. Loeb
Mon, 27 Apr 20
5/45
Comments: 4 pages, 2 figures; submitted for publication
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