Emilie Dunham

Deciphering Clues in the Solar System's First Formed Solids

Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) were the first solids to crystallize from the nebular gas surrounding our protostar (green outlined object in picture to the left); because they existed during this early time, they recorded clues about the violent events which occurred in the early Solar System. I use mass spectrometry techniques to determine chemical and isotopic compositions of meteorites with the goal of deciphering the irradiation environment during Solar System formation. It is important to study these events because they influenced what our Solar System looks like today!

As part of this project, I have synthesized glasses by melting oxide powders at high temperatures, you can see this process here.

If you're interested in learning more about this work, you should read my article in the Meteorite Times magazine titled Understanding Solar System History: CAIs in Meteorites.

The Shape of the Kuiper Belt Object Haumea

Haumea is one of the most intriguing Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO). It is about 1/3rd the mass and located near Pluto, covered in nearly pure water ice, and is one of the fastest spinning bodies in the Solar System rotating in about 4 hours! This has caused Haumea to flatten into a football shape. I use an algorithm which solves for Haumea's equilibruim shape in order to constrain what the core is made of; this informs us that Haumea was potentially habitable early in its evolution.

Martian Meteorites

Shergottites are igneous martian meteorites that crystallized as recently as 180 million years ago. Using mass spectrometry techniques, I measured the rare earth element content of martian meteorites recently found in Antarctica. This research helps us understand the magma from which the rock crystallized, which gives us a glimpse into what the martian mantle looks like.