Nuclear reactions induced by stau atomic collisions in big-bang nucleosynthesis

Abstract

Calculations of low energy atomic collision are performed for the new types of big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) reactions that are enhanced by a supersymmetric (SUSY) particle stau, a scalar partner of the tau lepton. If a stau has a lifetime > 103 s, it would capture a light element previously synthesized in standard BBN and form a Coulombic bound state. The bound state, an exotic atom, is expected to induce various nuclear reactions as in the muon catalyzed fusion. A negatively charged stau works as a catalyzer. We use a few-body calculational method developed by the authors, and provide precise cross sections and rates of the stau-catalyzed BBN reactions for the BBN network calculation.