Donald D. Clayton

Who is Donald D. Clayton?

Donald Delbert Clayton is an American astrophysicist. His published works lay foundations for five subfields of astrophysical research: the assembly inside of stars of the atoms of the chemical elements from atoms of hydrogen and helium left behind by the Big Bang; astronomy of gamma-ray lines emitted by radioactive atoms ejected by exploding stars; growth of the galactic abundances of the chemical elements, especially radioactive abundances, because of star birth and death during the aging of the Milky Way galaxy; astronomy based on abundances of the isotopes of the elements measured in solid grains that condensed from hot gases while those gases were being ejected from stars and survive within meteorites; chemical astronomy of the condensation of carbon solids from hot, radioactive supernova gases containing more oxygen than carbon. Clayton's name is associated today with each of these five subfields of astronomy. He published his research works from research positions at five institutions during an international academic career spanning almost six decades. In 2007 Clayton retired as Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University.