Presolar stardust in the solar system: Implications for nucleosynthesis and galactic chemical evolution

Primitive meteorites and interplanetary dust particles contain presolar grains: pristine solid samples of stellar material. These grains of stardust are a new source of information on nuclear astrophysics, complementary to traditional astronomical observations. Identified phases include silicates, oxides, SiC, graphite (including sub-grains of metal and carbides), and silicon nitride. Most grains can be attributed to either asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars or Type II supernovae, based on their isotopic compositions. Detailed high-precision isotopic data for the grains provide important and unique constraints on nuclear processes occurring in these stars.