Experimental, Computational, and Observational Analysis of Primordial Nucleosynthesis
Abstract
We present a comprehensive evaluation of the current status of the standard theory of primordial nucleosynthesis, determining the 12 nuclear reactions most important for the production of the light elements and conducting a detailed study of their rates and uncertainties; these are incorporated into a Monte Carlo analysis to evaluate uncertainties in the computed elemental abundances. These predicted abundances are compared with primordial abundances deduced from astronomical observations of the light elements D, He-3, He-4, and Li-7; consistent agreement exists over a narrow range of the baryon-to-photon ratio n, thereby supporting the standard theory of big bang nucleosynthesis. This n range corresponds to a constraint on the baryon density parameter of 0.01-0.09, where the primordial D + He-3 abundance sets the lower bound and the He-4 abundance sets the upper bound. The new reaction rates cause an increase in the upper bound from Li-7 by 40 percent over that determined in previous studies.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
- Pub Date:
- April 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/191763
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJS...85..219S
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Light Elements;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Nuclear Fusion;
- Nuclear Reactions;
- Baryons;
- Chemical Reactions;
- Lithium;
- Neutrons;
- Numerical Analysis;
- Protons;
- Star Distribution;
- Astrophysics;
- EARLY UNIVERSE;
- NUCLEAR REACTIONS;
- NUCLEOSYNTHESIS;
- ABUNDANCES