Discover
/
Article

What can deuterium tell us?

DEC 01, 1974
The recently observed relative abundance of this isotope in our galaxy may be a remnant of the fireball phase of the universe.
David N. Schramm
Robert V. Wagoner

What is behind the unusual flurry of activity concerned with the isotope deuterium? Simply this: Because of its unique properties, the distribution of deuterium in the universe constitutes a powerful clue to the history of the development of matter.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. I. Friedman, A. C. Redfield, B. Schoen, J. Harris, Rev. Geophys. 2, 177 (1964).https://doi.org/RVGPA3

  2. 2. G. Boato, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 6, 209 (1954).https://doi.org/GCACAK

  3. 3. R. Beer, F. W. Taylor, Astrophys. J. 179, 309 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  4. 4. J. T. Trauger, F. L. Roesler, N. P. Carleton, W. A. Traub, Astrophys. J. Lett. 184, L137 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  5. 5. N. Grevesse, Colloque de Liège 19, 251 (1970).

  6. 6. D. C. Black, Nature Phys. Sci. 234, 148 (1971).https://doi.org/NPSCA6

  7. 7. D. C. Black, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 36, 347 (1972).https://doi.org/GCACAK

  8. 8. J. Geiss, H. Reeves, Astron. and Astrophys. 18, 126 (1972).https://doi.org/AAEJAF

  9. 9. S. Weinreb, Nature 195, 367 (1962).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  10. 10. D. A. Cesarsky, A. T. Moffet, J. M. Pasachoff, Astrophys. J. Lett. 180, L1 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  11. 11. J. M. Pasachoff, D. A. Cesarsky, Astrophys. J., to be published (1974).

  12. 12. K. B. Jefferts, A. A. Penzias, R. W. Wilson, Astrophys. J. 179, L57 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  13. 13. R. W. Wilson, A. A. Penzias, K. B. Jefferts, P. R. Solomon, Astrophys. J. Lett. 179, L107 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  14. 14. L. Spitzer, J. F. Drake, E. B. Jenkins, D. C. Morton, J. B. Rogerson, D. G. York, Astrophys. J. Lett. 181, L116 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  15. 15. J. B. Rogerson, Jr, D. G. York, Astrophys. J. Lett. 186, L95 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  16. 16. A. G. W. Cameron, in Explosive Nucleosynthesis (D. N. Schramm, W. D. Arnett, eds.), University of Texas Press, Austin (1973).

  17. 17. P. N. Solomon, N. J. Woolf, Astrophys. J. Lett. 180, L89 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  18. 18. W. D. Watson, Astrophys. J. Lett. 181, L129 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  19. 19. W. D. Watson, Astrophys. J. Lett. 182, L73 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  20. 20. J. H. Black, A. Dalgarno, Astrophys. J. Lett. 184, L101 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  21. 21. H. Reeves, J. Audouze, W. A. Fowler, D. N. Schramm, Astrophys. J. 179, 909 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  22. 22. J. Truran, A. G. W. Cameron, Astrophys. and Space Sci. 14, 179 (1971).https://doi.org/APSSBE

  23. 23. R. J. Talbot, Jr, W. D. Arnett, Astrophys. J. 186, 51 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  24. 24. W. A. Fowler, J. L. Greenstein, F. Hoyle, Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc. 6, 148 (1962).https://doi.org/GEOJAN

  25. 25. C. Ryter, H. Reeves, E. Gradsztajn, J. Audouze, Astron. and Astrophys. 8, 389 (1970).https://doi.org/AAEJAF

  26. 26. H. Reeves, W. A. Fowler, F. Hoyle, Nature 226, 727 (1970).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  27. 27. M. Meneguzzi, J. Audouze, H. Reeves, Astron. and Astrophys. 15, 337 (1971).https://doi.org/AAEJAF

  28. 28. H. Mitler, Astrophys. and Space Sci. 17, 186 (1972).https://doi.org/APSSBE

  29. 29. J. Audouze, J. Lequeux, H. Reeves, Astron. and Astrophys. 28, 85 (1973).https://doi.org/AAEJAF

  30. 30. D. C. Morton, A. M. Smith, T. Stecher, Astrophys. J., to be published.

  31. 31. S. A. Colgate, Astrophys. J. Lett. 181, L53 (1973).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  32. 32. S. A. Colgate, in Explosive Nucleosynthesis (D. N. Schramm, W. D. Arnett, eds.), University of Texas Press, Austin (1973).

  33. 33. S. A. Colgate, Astrophys. J. 187, 321 (1974).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  34. 34. F. Hoyle, W. A. Fowler, Nature 241, 384 (1973).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  35. 35. H. Reeves, paper presented at the 13th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Denver (1973).

  36. 36. R. I. Epstein, W. D. Arnett, D. N. Schramm, Astrophys, J., in press.

  37. 37. E. R. Harrison, PHYSICS TODAY, June 1968; page 31.

  38. 38. C. W. Misner, K. S. Thorne, J. A. Wheeler, Gravitation, W. A. Freeman, San Francisco (1973).

  39. 39. A. Sandage, G. Tamman, E. Hardy, Astrophys. J. 172, 253 (1972).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  40. 40. R. G. Hughes, M. Longair, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 135, 131 (1967).https://doi.org/MNRAA4

  41. 41. P. J. E. Peebles, Physical Cosmology, Princeton U.P. (1971).

  42. 42. P. J. E. Peebles, Phys. Rev. Letts. 16, 410 (1966); https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    P. J. E. Peebles, Astrophys. J. 146, 542 (1966); https://doi.org/ASJOAB
    R. V. Wagoner, W. A. Fowler, F. Hoyle, Astrophys. J. 148, 3 (1967); https://doi.org/ASJOAB
    R. V. Wagoner, Science 155, 1369 (1967).https://doi.org/SCIEAS

  43. 43. R. V. Wagoner, Astrophys. J. 179, 343 (1973).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  44. 44. R. V. Wagoner, in Proceedings of I.A.U. Symposium no. 63, Cracow, Poland (1973).

  45. 45. J. R. Gott, J. Gunn, D. N. Schramm, B. Tinsley, Orange aid preprint, Caltech (1974).

  46. 46. A. R. Sandage, in Proceedings of the Symposium on the Galaxy and the Distance Scale (Essex, England), in press (1974).

  47. 47. A. R. Sandage, Astrophys. J. 178, 1 (1972).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  48. 48. B. Tinsley, Astrophys. J. Lett. 173, L93 (1972).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

  49. 49. T. Weaver, G. Chapline, Astrophys. J. Lett. 192, L57 (1974).https://doi.org/AJLEAU

More about the Authors

David N. Schramm. Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago.

Robert V. Wagoner. Stanford University.

Related content
/
Article
Figuring out how to communicate with the public can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice for getting started.
/
Article
Amid growing investment in planetary-scale climate intervention strategies that alter sunlight reflection, global communities deserve inclusive and accountable oversight of research.
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1974_12.jpeg

Volume 27, Number 12

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.