Mechanisms for delivery and heliospheric entry of supernova dust

Determine the physical mechanisms and efficiencies by which interstellar dust grains carrying radionuclides (e.g., 60Fe and 244Pu) from nearby supernovae are transported to the inner Solar System and penetrate the heliosphere, including the conditions under which such dust can enter and deposit on Earth without requiring sub-AU heliosphere compression.

Background

The paper discusses alternative explanations for observed excesses of 60Fe and 244Pu in terrestrial and lunar archives. In the nearby supernova scenario, the radionuclides must be transported as dust grains through the interstellar medium to the Solar System and then enter the heliosphere to reach Earth.

The authors note that current models for this scenario rely on assumptions about dust delivery and heliospheric entry that are not yet resolved, identifying these aspects as active, unresolved research areas.

References

These models include further assumptions involving the delivery of dust to the Solar System and its entry into the heliosphere that are still open areas of research.

— Increased and Varied Radiation during the Sun's Encounters with Cold Clouds in the last 10 million years  (2601.11785 - Opher et al., 16 Jan 2026) in Introduction