No Arabic abstract
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) is the synthesis of the light nuclei, Deuterium, He3, He4 and Li7, during the first few minutes of the universe. This review concentrates on recent improvements in the measurement of the primordial (after BBN, and prior to modification) abundances of these nuclei. We mention improvement in the standard theory, and the non-standard extensions which are limited by the data. (abridged)
Primordial or big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is one of the three historical strong evidences for the big bang model. The recent results by the Planck satellite mission have slightly changed the estimate of the baryonic density compared to the previous WMAP analysis. This article updates the BBN predictions for the light elements using the cosmological parameters determined by Planck, as well as an improvement of the nuclear network and new spectroscopic observations. There is a slight lowering of the primordial Li/H abundance, however, this lithium value still remains typically 3 times larger than its observed spectroscopic abundance in halo stars of the Galaxy. According to the importance of this lithium problem, we trace the small changes in its BBN calculated abundance following updates of the baryonic density, neutron lifetime and networks. In addition, for the first time, we provide confidence limits for the production of 6Li, 9Be, 11B and CNO, resulting from our extensive Monte Carlo calculation with our extended network. A specific focus is cast on CNO primordial production. Considering uncertainties on the nuclear rates around the CNO formation, we obtain CNO/H approx (5-30) x 10^{-15}. We further improve this estimate by analyzing correlations between yields and reaction rates and identified new influential reaction rates. These uncertain rates, if simultaneously varied could lead to a significant increase of CNO production: CNO/H sim 10^{-13}. This result is important for the study of population III star formation during the dark ages.
I review standard big bang nucleosynthesis and so
As space expands, the energy density in black holes increases relative to that of radiation, providing us with motivation to consider scenarios in which the early universe contained a significant abundance of such objects. In this study, we revisit the constraints on primordial black holes derived from measurements of the light element abundances. Black holes and their Hawking evaporation products can impact the era of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) by altering the rate of expansion at the time of neutron-proton freeze-out, as well as by radiating mesons which can convert protons into neutrons and vice versa. Such black holes can thus enhance the primordial neutron-to-proton ratio, and increase the amount of helium that is ultimately produced. Additionally, the products of Hawking evaporation can break up helium nuclei, which both reduces the helium abundance and increases the abundance of primordial deuterium. Building upon previous work, we make use of modern deuterium and helium measurements to derive stringent constraints on black holes which evaporate in $t_{rm evap} sim 10^{-1}$ s to $sim 10^{13}$ s (corresponding to $M sim 6times 10^8$ g to $sim 2 times 10^{13}$ g, assuming Standard Model particle content). We also consider how physics beyond the Standard Model could impact these constraints. Due to the gravitational nature of Hawking evaporation, the rate at which a black hole evaporates, and the types of particles that are produced through this process, depend on the complete particle spectrum. Within this context, we discuss scenarios which feature a large number of decoupled degrees-of-freedom (ie~large hidden sectors), as well as models of TeV-scale supersymmetry.
Big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is affected by the energy density of a primordial magnetic field (PMF). For an easy derivation of constraints on models for PMF generations, we assume a PMF with a power law (PL) distribution in wave number defined with a field strength, a PL index, and maximum and minimum scales at a generation epoch. We then show a relation between PL-PMF parameters and the scale invariant (SI) strength of PMF for the first time. We perform a BBN calculation including PMF effects, and show abundances as a function of baryon to photon ratio $eta$. The SI strength of the PMF is constrained from observational constraints on abundances of $^4$He and D. The minimum abundance of $^7$Li/H as a function of $eta$ slightly moves to a higher $^7$Li/H value at a larger $eta$ value when a PMF exists during BBN. We then discuss degeneracies between the PL-PMF parameters in the PMF effect. In addition, we assume a general case in which both the existence and the dissipation of PMF are possible. It is then found that an upper limit on the SI strength of the PMF can be derived from a constraint on $^4$He abundance, and that a lower limit on the allowed $^7$Li abundance is significantly higher than those observed in metal-poor stars.
We reanalyze the allowed parameters for inhomogeneous big bang nucleosynthesis in light of the WMAP constraints on the baryon-to-photon ratio and a recent measurement which has set the neutron lifetime to be 878.5 +/- 0.7 +/- 0.3 seconds. For a set baryon-to-photon ratio the new lifetime reduces the mass fraction of He4 by 0.0015 but does not significantly change the abundances of other isotopes. This enlarges the region of concordance between He4 and deuterium in the parameter space of the baryon-to-photon ratio and the IBBN distance scale. The Li7 abundance can be brought into concordance with observed He4 and deuterium abundances by using depletion factors as high as 9.3. The WMAP constraints, however, severely limit the allowed comoving (T = 100 GK) inhomogeneity distance scale to (1.3 - 2.6)x10^5 cm.