J-type carbon stars: A dominant source of 14N-rich presolar SiC grains of type ABOPEN ACCESS 

Nan Liu, Thomas Stephan, Patrick Boehnke, Larry R. Nittler, Conel M. O’D. Alexander, Jianhua Wang, Andrew M. Davis, Reto Trappitsch, Michael J. Pellin

The Astrophysical Journal Letters

PDF (OPEN ACCESS)

updated: 22 July 2017
LINK

“We report Mo isotopic data of 27 new presolar SiC grains, including 12 14N-rich AB (14N/15N>440, AB2) and 15 mainstream (MS) grains, and their correlated Sr and Ba isotope ratios when available. Direct comparison of the data for the MS grains, which came from low-mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with large s-process isotope enhancements, with the AB2 grain data demonstrates that AB2 grains show near-solar isotopic compositions and lack s-process enhancements. The near-normal Sr, Mo, and Ba isotopic compositions of AB2 grains clearly exclude born-again AGB stars, where the intermediate neutron-capture process (i-process) takes place, as their stellar source. On the other hand, low-mass CO novae, and early R- and J-type carbon stars show 13C and 14N excesses but no s-process enhancements and are thus potential stellar sources of AB2 grains. Since both early R-type carbon stars and CO novae are rare objects, the abundant J-type carbon stars (10-15% of all carbon stars) are thus likely to be a dominant source of AB2 grains.”