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BBN for pedestrians

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Kneller, James P, Steigman, Gary·2004·New Journal of Physics
DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/6/1/117
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Abstract

The simplest, 'standard' model of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN) assumes three light neutrinos ( N ν = 3) and no significant electron neutrino asymmetry ( asymmetry parameter ξ e ≡ μ e / kT , where μ e is the chemical potential of ν e ) leaving only one adjustable parameter: the baryon to photon ratio η ≡ n B / n γ . The primordial abundance of any one nuclide can, therefore, be used to measure η and the value derived from the observationally inferred primordial abundance of deuterium closely matches that from current non-BBN data, primarily from the WMAP survey. However, using this same estimate for η, there is a tension between the SBBN-predicted abundances of 4 He and 7 Li and their current, observationally inferred primordial abundances, suggesting that N ν may differ from the standard model value of three and/or that ξ e may differ from zero (or, that systematic errors in the abundance determinations have been underestimated or overlooked). The differences are not large and the allowed ranges of the BBN parameters (η, N ν and ξ e ) permitted by the data are quite small. Within these ranges, the BBN-predicted abundances of D, 3 He, 4 He, and 7 Li are very smooth, monotonic functions of η 10 , Δ N ν ≡ N ν − 3 and ξ e . As a result, it is possible to describe the dependence of these abundances (or powers of them) upon the three parameters by simple, linear fits which, over their ranges of applicability, are accurate to a few per cent or even better. The fits presented here have not been maximized for their accuracy but, rather, for their simplicity . To identify the ranges of applicability and relative accuracies, they are compared with detailed BBN calculations; their utility is illustrated with several examples. Given the tension within BBN, these fits should prove useful in facilitating studies of the viability of various options for non-standard physics and cosmology, prior to undertaking detailed BBN calculations.

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  • Perturbation theory does not give reliable information about the electroweak phase transition for Higgs masses beyond ∼70 GeV.

    “A study of higher orders[53] reveals that perturbation theory does not give reliable information about the electroweak phase transition for Higgs masses beyond ∼ 70 GeV.”

    From Phase Transitions in the Early and Present Universe (2006) · cites this paper as [53]

    The paper’s Summary and conclusions discusses Big Bang nucleosynthesis and fits to predicted light-element abundances. Searches for the electroweak phase transition, perturbation theory, higher-order studies, and a 70 GeV Higgs-mass threshold found no passage addressing the claim. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Barrow J D and Scherrer R J 2004 Preprint astro-ph/0406088 · arXiv
  2. Steigman G 2004 STScI Symp. Ser. 15 46; also in Proc. STScI Symp. on 'The Dark Universe: Matter, Energy, and Gravity' ed M Livio, May
  3. Olive K A and Skillman E D 2004 Preprint astro-ph/0405588 · arXiv

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Related

Authors
Kneller, J. P., & Steigman, G.
Affiliations
  • North Carolina State University (US)
  • The Ohio State University (US)
ORCID
Kneller, James P
Venue
New Journal of Physics
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Published
2004-09-18
Volume
6
Pages
117-117
ISSN
1367-2630 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/6/1/117
OpenAlex
W2081904356
Cited by
95
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4
FWCI
3.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • New Journal of Physics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • North Carolina State University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Neutrino Physics Research
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Nuclear physics research studies
Keywords
big bang nucleosynthesis, baryon-to-photon ratio, primordial abundances, deuterium, helium-4, lithium-7, helium-3, alternative cosmology

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