Neutron diffusion and nucleosynthesis in an inhomogeneous big bang model

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.72.023509· OSTI ID:20711112

Lara, Juan F ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631 (United States)

This article presents an original code for big bang nucleosynthesis in a baryon inhomogeneous model of the Universe. In this code neutron diffusion between high and low baryon density regions is calculated simultaneously with the nuclear reactions and weak decays that compose the nucleosynthesis process. The size of the model determines the time when neutron diffusion becomes significant. This article describes in detail how the time of neutron diffusion relative to the time of nucleosynthesis affects the final abundances of {sup 4}He, deuterium and {sup 7}Li. These results will be compared with the most recent observational constraints of {sup 4}He, deuterium and {sup 7}Li. This inhomogeneous model has {sup 4}He and deuterium constraints in concordance for baryon-to-photon ratio {eta}=(4.3-12.3)x10{sup -10} {sup 7}Li constraints are brought into concordance with the other isotope constraints by including a depletion factor as high as 5.9. These ranges for the baryon-to-photon ratio and for the depletion factor are larger than the ranges from a standard big bang nucleosynthesis model.

• OSTI ID: 20711112
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 72; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ABUNDANCE
BARYONS
COSMOLOGY
DENSITY
DEUTERIUM
HELIUM 4
LITHIUM 7
NEUTRON DIFFUSION EQUATION
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PHOTONS
UNIVERSE
WEAK PARTICLE DECAY