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Challenges to the standard model of Big Bang nucleosynthesis

Conference · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States)
OSTI ID:6200768
 [1]
  1. Ohio State Univ., Columbus (United States)

Big Bang nucleosynthesis provides a unique probe of the early evolution of the Universe and a crucial test of the consistency of the standard hot Big Bang cosmological model. Although the primordial abundances of [sup 2]H, [sup 3]He, [sup 4]He, and [sup 7]Li inferred from current observational data are in agreement with those predicted by Big Bang nucleosynthesis, recent analysis has severely restricted the consistent range for the nucleon-to-photon ratio: 3.7 [le] [eta][sub 10] [le] 4.0. Increased accuracy in the estimate of primordial [sup 4]he and observations of Be and B in Pop II stars are offering new challenges to the standard model and suggest that no new light particles may be allowed (N[sub [nu]][sup BBN] [le] 3.0, where N[sub [nu]] is the number of equivalent light neutrinos). 23 refs.

OSTI ID:
6200768
Report Number(s):
CONF-9203232--
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States) Vol. 90:11; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English