Sharpening the Predictions of Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.4176· OSTI ID:341420

Burles, S; Truran, J W; Turner, M S ^[1]; Nollett, K M; Turner, M S ^[2]; Turner, M S ^[3]

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1. Department of Astronomy Astrophysics, Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1433 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1433 (United States)
3. NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510-0500 (United States)

We have reexamined the nuclear inputs to big-bang nucleosynthesis using Monte Carlo realization of the cross-section data to directly estimate theoretical uncertainties for the yields of D , {sup 3}He , and {sup 7}Li . Our results indicate that previous estimates of the uncertainties were too large by a factor of 2. Using the Burles{endash}Tytler deuterium measurement, we infer a baryon density {Omega}{sub B}h{sup 2}=0.019{plus_minus}0.0024 , predict a primeval {sup 4}He mass fraction Y{sub P}=0.246{plus_minus}0.0014 , and obtain a limit to the equivalent number of neutrino species N{sub {nu}}{lt}3.20 (all at 95{percent} C.L.). We also identify key reactions and the energies, where improved data would allow further progress. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 341420
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 82; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ALPHA REACTIONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
COSMOLOGY
DEUTERIUM
DEUTERON REACTIONS
HELIUM
HELIUM 3
LITHIUM
LITHIUM 7
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PROTON REACTIONS