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 Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology: People
Dimitri Papanastassiou's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-335
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone:
818.354.5164
Fax:
818.393.6546
Email:

Dimitri Papanastassiou

Education
  • B. S., Physics-Honors, California Institute of Technology (1965)
  • Ph. D., Physics, California Institute of Technology (1970)
Research Interests
  • Formation and evolution of meteorites and planets; establishment of a fine resolution time sequence of condensation and isolation of bodies from the solar nebula
  • Study of correlated isotopic anomalies in meteorites and their connection with specific nucleosynthetic processes. The discoveries have provided strong evidence for the introduction of extremely short-lived nuclides in the early solar system and for the preservation of distinct, exotic nucleosynthetic products at the time of solar system formation
  • Development of high precision and high sensitivity mass spectrometry and ultra-clean sample processing and chemical separations. This has included the acquisition and development a high abundance sensitivity mass spectrometer, modified to reach an abundance sensitivity of 3 x 10-11 amu-1 in the U-Th mass region, which approaches the levels characteristic of accelerator mass spectrometry
  • Study of U-Th series disequilibrium in quartenary volcanics
  • Development of negative ion production techniques and use of these techniques for the study of platinum group elements for research on extraterrestrial materials
Professional Experience
  • Senior Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1999-present)


  • California Institute of Technology (1970-Present)
    [http://www.gps.caltech.edu/people/dap/profile]
    • Faculty Associate in Geochemistry, Div. Geological and Planetary Sciences (1999-Present); Senior Research Associate in Geochemistry (1981-1999); Research Associate in Geochemistry (1976-1981); Instructor in Freshman Physics (1979-1980 and 1971-1972); Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Sciences (1973-1976); Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Sciences and Physics (1972-1973); R. A. Millikan Research Fellow in Physics (1971); Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Physics (1970)
Selected Awards
  • NASA Group Achievement Award Meteorite Isotope Analysis Team (2011)
  • F. W. Clarke Medal of the Geochemical Society (1972)
  • NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement (1976)
  • Meteoritical Society, Fellow (1976)
  • John Simon Guggenheim Fellow (1982-1983)
  • J. William Fulbright Fellow (1982-1983)
  • NASA, Group Achievement Award, Planetary Materials Curation Team (1983)
  • American Geophysical Union, Fellow (1990)
Selected Publications
  1. N. Dauphas, L. Remusat, J. H. Chen, M. Roskosz, D. A. Papanastassiou, J. Stodolna, Y. Guan, C. Ma, and J. M. Eiler (2010) Neutron-rich chromium isotope anomalies in supernova nanoparticles, Ap. J. (in press).
  2. J. H. Chen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (2010) Evidence for endemic Ru isotope anomalies in the early solar system and their preservation in planetary differentiates. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 74, 3851-3862.
  3. G. Caro, D.A. Papanastassiou, and G.J. Wasserburg (2010) 40K-40Ca isotopic constraints on the oceanic calcium cycle. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 296, 124-132.
  4. J. H. Chen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (2009) A search for nickel isotopic anomalies in iron meteorites and chondrites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 73, 1461-1471.
  5. J. H. Chen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (2009) Evidence for endemic Mo isotope anomalies in the early solar system. (in preparation).
  6. D. W. Beaty, C. C. Allen, D. S. Bass, K. L. Buxbaum, J. K. Campbell, D. J. Lindstrom, S. L. Miller, and D. A. Papanastassiou (2009) Planning considerations for a Mars sample receiving facility. Astrobiology 9, 745-758.
  7. M. E. Zolensky, et al. (incl. D. A. Papanastassiou) (2006) Mineralogy and petrology of comet 81P/Wild 2 nucleus samples. Science 314, 1735-1739.
  8. D. Brownlee, et al. (incl. D. A. Papanastassiou) (2006) Comet 81P/Wild 2 under a microscope. Science 314, 1711-1716.
  9. S. A. Sandford, et al. (incl. ) (2006) Organics captured from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft. Science 314, 1720-1724.
  10. K. D. McKeegan, et al. (incl. D. A. Papanastassiou) (2006) Isotopic compositions of cometary matter returned by Stardust. Science 314, 1724-1728.
  11. G. J. Flynn, et al. (incl. D. A. Papanastassiou) (2006) Elemental compositions of comet 81P/Wild 2 samples collected by Stardust. Science 314, 1731-1735.
  12. S. Liu, D. A. Papanastassiou, H. H. Ngo, B. P. Glass (2006) Sr and Nd analysis of upper Eocene spherules and their implications for target rocks. Meteor. Planet. Sci. 41, 705-714.
  13. P. T. Doran, S. M. Clifford, S. L. Forman, L. E. Nyquist, D. A. Papanastassiou, B. W. Stewart (and nine authors) (2004) Mars chronology: assessing techniques for quantifying surficial processes. Earth Science Rev. 67, 313-337.
  14. D. Lemarchand, G. J. Wasserburg, and D. A. Papanastassiou (2004) Rate-controlled calcium isotope fractionation in synthetic calcite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 68, 4665-4678.
  15. J. H. Chen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (2002) Re-Os and Pd-Ag Systematics in Group IIIAB iron meteorites and in pallasites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 66, 3793-3810.
  16. Papanastassiou D. A., Bognanovski O., & Wasserburg G. J. (2002) 53Mn-53Cr systematics in Allende refractory inclusions. Meteor. Planet. Sci. 37, A31.
  17. J. H. Chen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1999) Re-Os systematics in chondrites and the fractionation of the platinum group elements in the early solar system. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 62 (19), 3379-3382.
  18. J. J. Shen, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1996) Precise Re-Os determinations and systematics on iron meteorites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 60, 2887-2900.
  19. R. A. Creaser, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1991) Negative thermal ion mass spectrometry of Os, Re, and Ir. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 55, 397-401.
  20. J. Völkening and D. A. Papanastassiou (1990) Zinc isotope anomalies. Astrophys. J. (Lett.) 358, L29-L32.
  21. J. Völkening and D. A. Papanastassiou (1989) Iron isotope anomalies. Astrophys. J. (Lett.) 347, L43-L46.
  22. W. A. Russell, D. A. Papanastassiou, and T. A. Tombrello (1978) Ca isotope fractionation on the earth and other solar system materials. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42, 1075 1090.
  23. T. Lee, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1977) 26Al in the early solar system: Fossil or fuel? Ap. J. Letters 211, L107 L110.
  24. F. Tera, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1974) Isotopic evidence for a terminal lunar cataclysm. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 22, 1 21.
  25. C. M. Gray, D. A. Papanastassiou, and G. J. Wasserburg (1973) The identification of early condensates from the solar nebula. Icarus 20, 213 239.
  26. D. A. Papanastassiou and G. J. Wasserburg (1969) Initial strontium isotopic abundances and the resolution of small time differences in the formation of planetary objects. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 5, 361 376.

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