A TEST OF THE SUPERNOVA TRIGGER HYPOTHESIS WITH FE-60 AND AL-26

It is shown that if the Al-26 inventory of the early solar system, tak en as (Al-26/Al-27).= 5 x 10(-5), is a result of injection of fresh de bris from a Type II supernova (SNII), then Fe-60/Fe-56 would have to b e between 3 x 10(-7) and 1 x 10(-5). This inferred correlation of Al-2 6 and Fe-60 is based on the observation that both nuclei are produced dominantly in the O/Ne zone and that for SNII ejecta Al-26/Fe-60 is be tween 0.6 and 23. A similar correlation applies to Ca-41, Cl-36, O-16, and O-18, which are also produced in the same zone or in nearby regio ns. The supernova trigger hypothesis may be tested by determination of Ni-60 excesses correlated with Fe in samples where Al-26 was demonstr ated to be present. From available experimental data, it appears that the observed abundance of 60Fe is too low to be compatible with a supe rnova trigger that injected the Al-26 into the protosolar nebula. The same is true for Mn-53, a short-lived nucleus produced in the outer ed ge of the Ni core.