Decoding the formation of barred olivine chondrules: Realization of numerical replication

Millimeter-sized silicate spherules embedded in primitive meteorites, namely, "chondrules," are the primary solid component of the early solar nebula. They exhibit distinctive solidification textures, formed through rapid cooling from a molten state. The formation conditions of these textures have primarily been inferred on the basis of dynamic crystallization experiments; however, the theoretical verification of the solidification process has been largely neglected. Here, we conducted numerical simulations of the solidification of chondrule melt and successfully reproduced a crystal growth pattern resembling a typical barred olivine chondrule texture. This pattern emerged under conditions of rapid cooling, exceeding 10⁴ kelvins hour^-1, which is substantially larger than those inferred experimentally. These results suggest that theories of chondrule formation in the nebula, which have been developed based on experimental results, should be reexamined.