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Research

Isotopic and chemical evolution in the early Solar System

​Recent developments in analytical techniques have revealed that Solar System materials can be classified into two major groups based on their isotopic compositions (isotopic dichotomy). This is thought to be strongly correlated with the composition of materials and formation positions of objects in the solar system. To elucidate the source materials of each meteorite parent body, I focus on nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies in the oldest condensed material in the solar system, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs). The isotopic compositions in CAIs are important tracers for understanding the processes of formation, migration, and mixing of materials in the early Solar System.

Related Papers

  • Masuda, Y., Yokoyama, T. Strontium isotope evidence for the repeated formation of refractory inclusions in the Allende meteorite. Geochimical et Cosmochimica Acta 345, 50-61, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2023.01.024

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Masuda and Yokoyama (2023)

Inclusions in the Allende meteorite

Combined X-ray elemental map of fine-grained CAIs

Application and development of new analytical methods based on laser ablation techniques​

The laser ablation method, with its low sample destruction, provides a new approach to isotopic and chemical analyses of precious samples such as meteorites. In particular, the trace element distribution of inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites is important information for understanding the formation process of materials in the early Solar System.  I work on the application of laser ablation techniques, which have been rapidly developing in recent years, to cosmochemistry to obtain isotope and chemical data with higher resolution in a faster time and from smaller sample volumes.

​Related Papers​​

  • Masuda, Y., Niki, S., Hirata, T., Yokoyama, T. Distribution analysis of rare earth elements in fine-grained CAIs of the Allende meteorite using multiple spot-femtosecond LA-ICP-MS. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, in press.

  • ​Masuda, Y., Yokoyama, T., Okabayashi, S., Ishikawa, A., Iwamori, H. Chemical and isotopic evaluation of a micro-sampling method using laser ablation and membrane filter (LAF). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 46, 205-222, 2022, doi:10.1111/ggr.12426​

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Masuda et al. (2024)

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Masuda et al. (2022)

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