Constraints on cosmology and neutrino physics from big bang nucleosynthesis

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1979 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/156779· OSTI ID:6325630

Yang, J; Schramm, D N; Steigman, G; Rood, R T

New calculations of primordial nucleosynthesis are presented and compared with the abundances of D, /sup 4/He, and /sup 7/Li to derive constraints to the number of two-component neutrino types (N/sub L/), the time-variation of the gravitational constant (Gapprox.t/sup -x/), and the present nucleon density (rho/sub N/=2 x 10/sup -29/..cap omega../sub N/h/sub 0//sup 2/). The observational and theoretical considerations related to the helium abundance are reviewed, and a primordial mass fraction Y< or approx. =0.25 is proposed. It follows from this limit to the /sup 4/He mass fraction that N/sub L/< or approx. =3,x<0.005,..cap omega../sub N/h/sub 0//sup 2/< or approx. =0.1. Independent considerations from the abundances of D, /sup 4/He, and /sup 7/Li all lead to the conclusion that the universe cannot be closed by nucleons.

• Research Organization: Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago
• OSTI ID: 6325630
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 227:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGY
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
DEUTERIUM
ABUNDANCE
HELIUM 4
LITHIUM 7
COSMOCHEMISTRY
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
UNIVERSE
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BARYONS
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LIGHT NUCLEI
LITHIUM ISOTOPES
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
STABLE ISOTOPES
640106* - Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology- Cosmology