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Introduction to big bang nucleosynthesis and modern cosmology
Open accessAbstract
Primordial nucleosynthesis remains as one of the pillars of modern cosmology. It is the testing ground upon which many cosmological models must ultimately rest. It is our only probe of the universe during the important radiation-dominated epoch in the first few minutes of cosmic expansion. This paper reviews the basic equations of space-time, cosmology, and big bang nucleosynthesis. We also summarize the current state of observational constraints on primordial abundances along with the key nuclear reactions and their uncertainties. We summarize which nuclear measurements are most crucial during the big bang. We also review various cosmological models and their constraints. In particular, we analyze the constraints that big bang nucleosynthesis places upon the possible time variation of fundamental constants, along with constraints on the nature and origin of dark matter and dark energy, long-lived supersymmetric particles, gravity waves, and the primordial magnetic field.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mathews, G. J., Kusakabe, M., & Kajino, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Notre Dame (US)
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (JP)
- ORCID
- Kusakabe, Motohiko
- Venue
- International Journal of Modern Physics E
- Publisher
- World Scientific Pub Co Pte Lt
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 08
- Pages
- 1741001
- ISSN
- 0218-3013 (ISSN-L)
- 1793-6608
- OpenAlex
- W2624921343
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 3.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- arxiv.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Modern Physics E (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17K05459)
- Topics
- 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
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Neutrino Physics Research
- Keywords
- big bang nucleosynthesis, primordial abundances, nuclear reaction rates, variation of fundamental constants, dark matter, dark energy, gravitational waves, primordial magnetic fields, radiation-dominated era, cosmological models
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