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Primordial nucleosynthesis redux
748
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1991
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The authors recalculate deuterium, ^3He, ^4He, and ^7Li abundances using updated nuclear reaction cross sections and neutron lifetime within the standard homogeneous, isotropic hot Big Bang model, and review observational data for these light elements, focusing on ^7Li and ^4He. The comparison of theory and observation confirms the standard model, yielding a nucleon‑to‑photon ratio 2.8–4.0, a baryon density Ω_bh^2 = 0.05 ± 0.01, an upper limit on ^4He mass fraction Y_p ≤ 0.240 that constrains the effective number of neutrinos to N_v ≤ 3.3, and indicating that most baryons are dark if Ω_tot = 1. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, July 1991 (DOI 10.1086/170255).
view Abstract Citations (995) References (125) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Primordial Nucleosynthesis Redux Walker, Terry P. ; Steigman, Gary ; Schramm, David N. ; Olive, Keith A. ; Kang, Ho-Shik Abstract The latest nuclear reaction cross sections (including the most recent determinations of the neutron lifetime) are used to recalculate the abundances of deuterium, ^3^He, ^4^He, and ^7^Li within the framework of primordial nucleosynthesis in the standard (homogeneous and isotropic) hot, big bang model. The observational data leading to estimates of (or bounds to) the primordial abundances of the light elements is reviewed with an emphasis on ^7^Li and ^4^He. A comparison between theory and observation reveals the consistency of the predictions of the standard model and leads to bounds to the nucleon-to-photon ratio, 2.8 <=n_10_<=4.0 (n_10_= 10^10^n_B_/n_y_), which constrains the baryon density parameter, {OMEGA}_b_h^2^_50_= 0.05 +/- 0.01 (the Hubble parameter is H_0_= 50h_50_ km s^-1^ Mpc). These bounds imply that the bulk of the baryons in the universe are dark if {OMEGA}_TOT_ = 1 and would require that the universe be dominated by nonbaryonic matter. An upper bound to the primordial mass fraction of ^4^He, Y_p_<=0.240, constrains the number of light (equivalent) neutrinos to N_v_<=3.3 in excellent agreement with the LEP and SLC collider results. Alternatively, for N_y_ = 3, we bound the predicted primordial abundance of ^4^He: 0.236 <= Y_p_ <= 0.243 (for 882 <= T_n_ <= 896 s). Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: July 1991 DOI: 10.1086/170255 Bibcode: 1991ApJ...376...51W Keywords: Abundance; Big Bang Cosmology; Elementary Particles; Nuclear Fusion; Universe; Deuterium; Helium Isotopes; Neutrons; Nuclear Reactions; Radiative Lifetime; Astrophysics; ABUNDANCES; EARLY UNIVERSE; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; NUCLEOSYNTHESIS full text sources ADS | data products NED (28)