Interstellar Dust and Gas in the Heliosphere

TL;DR

This paper discusses how interstellar dust and gas entering the heliosphere reveal insights into the local interstellar medium and the history of the Local Interstellar Cloud, including recent evidence of supernova influence.

Contribution

It presents new models for the evolution of the LIC within the Local Bubble and explores the sources of supernova-produced dust.

Findings

Detection of $^{60}$Fe indicates supernova influence on LISM.

Models suggest LIC evolution influenced by supernova events.

Evidence supports supernova role in shaping local interstellar environment.

Abstract

Interstellar dust and gas that enter the heliosphere provide us with important clues about both the heliosphere and the local interstellar medium (LISM). The picture we have of the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) from both \emph{in situ} detections and absorption line data presents questions that have important implications for the origins and evolution of the cloud. New detections of $^{60}$Fe on Earth in deep sea crusts and Antarctic snow cores provide evidence for the role of supernovae in shaping the LISM. We discuss our models for the evolution of the LIC inside the Local Bubble and possible explanations for the source of the supernova produced dust.