Crystallization of stardust analogs under an electron flux atmosphere
(corundum). In both processes, the structural evolution through atomic rearrangement was characterized by quantifying the average interatomic distance between neighboring atoms using the electron pair distribution function analysis. Extrapolating to astronomical timescales, our findings suggest that electron bombardment may play a significant role in the crystallization of stardust grains, highlighting its potential importance in astrophysical environments, such as the circumstellar envelopes of planetary nebulae.
Authors
- A. K. Speck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7832-0344)
- B. A. Sargent (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9855-8261)
- Cody Cly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3189-548X)
- Rakibul A Shohan
- Arturo Ponce
- Alan Whittington
- Joseph A Nuth III
Institutions
- Space Telescope Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (US)
- University of Baltimore (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PNAS Nexus
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag095
- Primary Topic
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- Division of Astronomical Sciences