Particle physics in the very early universe

Conference · Tue Dec 29 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6848619

Schramm, D N

Events in the very early big bang universe in which elementary particle physics effects may have been dominant are discussed, with attention to the generation of a net baryon number by way of grand unification theory, and emphasis on the possible role of massive neutrinos in increasing current understanding of various cosmological properties and of the constraints placed on neutrino properties by cosmology. It is noted that when grand unification theories are used to describe very early universe interactions, an initially baryon-symmetrical universe can evolve a net baryon excess of 10 to the -9th to 10 to the -11th per photon, given reasonable parameters. If neutrinos have mass, the bulk of the mass of the universe may be in the form of leptons, implying that the form of matter most familiar to physical science may not be the dominant form of matter in the universe.

• Research Organization: Chicago, University, Chicago, IL
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-80ER10773
• OSTI ID: 6848619
• Report Number(s): CONF-801250-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.; (United States) Journal Volume: 375
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
COSMIC NEUTRINOS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMOLOGY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
HADRONS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEAR MODELS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
RADIATIONS
UNIFIED MODEL
UNIVERSE