Standard big bang nucleosynthesis and primordial CNO abundances after Planck

Abstract

Primordial or big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is one of the three historical\nstrong evidences for the big bang model. The recent results by the Planck\nsatellite mission have slightly changed the estimate of the baryonic density\ncompared to the previous WMAP analysis. This article updates the BBN\npredictions for the light elements using the cosmological parameters determined\nby Planck, as well as an improvement of the nuclear network and new\nspectroscopic observations. There is a slight lowering of the primordial Li/H\nabundance, however, this lithium value still remains typically 3 times larger\nthan its observed spectroscopic abundance in halo stars of the Galaxy.\nAccording to the importance of this "lithium problem", we trace the small\nchanges in its BBN calculated abundance following updates of the baryonic\ndensity, neutron lifetime and networks. In addition, for the first time, we\nprovide confidence limits for the production of 6Li, 9Be, 11B and CNO,\nresulting from our extensive Monte Carlo calculation with our extended network.\nA specific focus is cast on CNO primordial production. Considering\nuncertainties on the nuclear rates around the CNO formation, we obtain CNO/H\n\\approx (5-30) x 10^{-15}. We further improve this estimate by analyzing\ncorrelations between yields and reaction rates and identified new influential\nreaction rates. These uncertain rates, if simultaneously varied could lead to a\nsignificant increase of CNO production: CNO/H \\sim 10^{-13}. This result is\nimportant for the study of population III star formation during the dark ages.\n