A TEST OF THE SUPERNOVA TRIGGER HYPOTHESIS WITH Fe AND Al

It is shown that if the Al inventory of the early solar system, taken as (Al/Al) , is a result 25 5 5 # 10 , of injection of fresh debris from a Type II supernova (SNII), then Fe/Fe would have to be between 3 # and . This inferred correlation of Al and Fe is based on the observation that both nuclei are 27 25 10 1 # 10 produced dominantly in the O/Ne zone and that for SNII ejecta Al/Fe is between 0.6 and 23. A similar correlation applies to Ca, Cl, O, and O, which are also produced in the same zone or in nearby regions. The supernova trigger hypothesis may be tested by determination of Ni excesses correlated with Fe in samples where Al was demonstrated to be present. From available experimental data, it appears that the observed abundance of Fe is too low to be compatible with a supernova trigger that injected the Al into the protosolar nebula. The same is true for Mn, a short-lived nucleus produced in the outer edge of the Ni core. Subject headings: ISM: abundances — nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances — solar system: formation — stars: formation — supernovae: general