Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Model Research Articles

The lithium problem: new insight in the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) beyond the standard model

The production of the light elements in the framework of the standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis model (SBBN) matches the observed abundances except in case of 7Li, where observations lie a factor 2.4-4.3 below SBBN+WMAP(Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) predictions. This so-called “Lithium problem” needs to be resolved beyond the SBBN. In this contribution we focus on the effect of degenerate neutrinos and the addition of dark component, including dark energy density and dark entropy. We find that the effect of the degeneracy parameter is significant if chemical potentials of neutrino families are different. Concerning the dark component, the major effect comes from adding dark entropy.

H-, He-like recombination spectra – II.l-changing collisions for He Rydberg states

Cosmological models can be constrained by determining primordial abundances. Accurate predictions of the He I spectrum are needed to determine the primordial helium abundance to a precision of $< 1$% in order to constrain Big Bang Nucleosynthesis models. Theoretical line emissivities at least this accurate are needed if this precision is to be achieved. In the first paper of this series, which focused on H I, we showed that differences in $l$-changing collisional rate coefficients predicted by three different theories can translate into 10% changes in predictions for H I spectra. Here we consider the more complicated case of He atoms, where low-$l$ subshells are not energy degenerate. A criterion for deciding when the energy separation between $l$ subshells is small enough to apply energy-degenerate collisional theories is given. Moreover, for certain conditions, the Bethe approximation originally proposed by Pengelly & Seaton (1964) is not sufficiently accurate. We introduce a simple modification of this theory which leads to rate coefficients which agree well with those obtained from pure quantal calculations using the approach of Vrinceanu et al. (2012). We show that the $l$-changing rate coefficients from the different theoretical approaches lead to differences of $\sim 10$% in He I emissivities in simulations of H II regions using spectral code Cloudy.

Using Inertial Fusion Implosions to Measure the T+^{3}He Fusion Cross Section at Nucleosynthesis-Relevant Energies.

Light nuclei were created during big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Standard BBN theory, using rates inferred from accelerator-beam data, cannot explain high levels of ^{6}Li in low-metallicity stars. Using high-energy-density plasmas we measure the T(^{3}He,γ)^{6}Li reaction rate, a candidate for anomalously high ^{6}Li production; we find that the rate is too low to explain the observations, and different than values used in common BBN models. This is the first data directly relevant to BBN, and also the first use of laboratory plasmas, at comparable conditions to astrophysical systems, to address a problem in nuclear astrophysics.

A method for investigation of the D(4He, γ)6Li reaction in the Ultralow energy region under a high background

The cosmological lithium problem, that is, a noticeable discrepancy between the predicted and observed abundances of lithium, is in conflict with the Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis model. For example, the abundance of 7Li is 2–4 times smaller than predicted by the Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. As to the abundance of 6Li, recent more accurate optical investigations have yielded only the upper limit on the 6Li/7Li ratio, which makes the problem of 6Li abundance and accordingly of disagreement with the Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis predictions less acute. However, experimental study of the D(4He, γ)6Li reaction cross section is still of current importance because there is a theoretical approach predicting its anomalously large value in the region of energies below the Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis energy. The work is dedicated to the measurement of the cross section for the D(4He, γ)6Li reaction proceeding in zirconium deuteride at the incident 4He+ion energy of 36keV. The experiment is performed at a pulsed Hall plasma accelerator with an energy spread of 20% FWHM. A method for direct measurement of the background from the reaction chain D(4He, 4He)D→D(D, n)3He→(n, γ) and/or (n, n′γ) ending with activation of the surrounding material by neutrons is proposed and implemented in the work. An upper limit on the D(4He, γ)6Li reaction cross section σ≤7·10−36cm2 at the 90% confidence level is obtained.

Revised thermonuclear rate ofBe7(n,α)He4relevant to Big-Bang nucleosynthesis

In the standard Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model, the primordial $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ abundance is overestimated by about a factor of 2 to 3 compared to astronomical observations; this is the so-called pending cosmological lithium problem. The $^{7}\mathrm{Be}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reaction was regarded as the secondary important reaction in affecting the $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ abundance by destructing the $^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ nucleus in BBN. However, the reaction rate of $^{7}\mathrm{Be}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{4}\mathrm{He}$ has not been well studied so far. This reaction rate was first estimated by Wagoner in 1969, which has been primarily adopted in the current BBN simulations. This simple estimate involved only a direct reaction contribution, but the resonant component should also be considered according to the later experimental results. In the present work, we revised this rate based on the indirect cross-section data available for the $^{4}\mathrm{He}(\ensuremath{\alpha},n)^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ and $^{4}\mathrm{He}(\ensuremath{\alpha},p)^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ reactions by applying the charge symmetry and the principle of detailed balance. Our new result shows that the previous rate (acting as an upper limit) is overestimated by about a factor of ten. The BBN simulation shows that the present rate leads to a 1.2% increase in the final $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ abundance compared with the result using the Wagoner rate and, hence, the present rate even worsens the $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ problem. By the present estimation, the role of $^{7}\mathrm{Be}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{4}\mathrm{He}$ in destroying $^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ is weakened from the second most importance to the third and, in turn, the $^{7}\mathrm{Be}(d,p)2^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reaction becomes of secondary importance in destroying $^{7}\mathrm{Be}$.

Breakup following interactions with light targets: Investigating new methods to probe nuclear physics input to the cosmological lithium problem.

A well known issue with concordance cosmology is the cosmological lithium problem, where models of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis indicate abundances of 7 Li three to four times larger than values inferred via spectroscopic measurements of metal-poor halo stars [1]. Since the source of this discrepancy remains unclear [2], it is vital to fully understand the nuclear reactions that affect the production of 7 Li during the Big Bang [3]. At the Australian National University, experimental equipment and analysis techniques have been developed for nuclear reaction studies at energies near the fusion barrier, exploiting large solid angle detectors to enable the investigation of breakup without a priori assumption of the breakup kinematics. The extension to reactions of astrophysical interest may help shed light on these reactions. Recent experiments, using these new techniques, have provided a complete picture of the breakup mechanisms of light nuclei in collisions with heavy targets [4]. The present work focuses on obtaining a complete picture of breakup mechanisms of 7 Li following interactions with 27 Al. It has been found that breakup is almost exclusively triggered by nucleon transfer between the colliding partners, to a larger extent than was found for heavier targets. The findings of these experiments, as well as progress towards extensions to astrophysically relevant reactions, such as d + 7 Be [5] will be presented.

Chemical separation of primordial Li+ during structure formation caused by nanogauss magnetic field

During the structure formation, charged and neutral chemical species may have separated from each other at the gravitational contraction in primordial magnetic field (PMF). A gradient in the PMF in a direction perpendicular to the field direction leads to the Lorentz force on the charged species. Resultantly, an ambipolar diffusion occurs, and charged species can move differently from neutral species, which collapses gravitationally during the structure formation. We assume a gravitational contraction of neutral matter in a spherically symmetric structure, and calculate fluid motions of charged and neutral species. It is shown that the charged fluid, i.e., proton, electron and $^7$Li$^+$, can significantly decouple from the neutral fluid depending on the field amplitude. The charged species can, therefore, escape from the gravitational collapse. We take the structure mass, the epoch of the gravitational collapse, and the comoving Lorenz force as parameters. We then identify a parameter region for an effective chemical separation. This type of chemical separation can reduce the abundance ratio of Li/H in early structures because of inefficient contraction of $^7$Li$^+$ ion. Therefore, it may explain Li abundances of Galactic metal-poor stars which are smaller than the prediction in standard big bang nucleosynthesis model. Amplitudes of the PMFs are controlled by a magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence. The upper limit on the field amplitude derived from the turbulence effect is close to the value required for the chemical separation.

Effects of long-lived 10 MeV-scale sterile neutrinos on primordial elemental abundances and the effective neutrino number

The primordial lithium abundance inferred from observations of metal-poor stars is ~3 times smaller than the theoretical value in standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model. We assume a simple model including a sterile neutrino nu_H with mass of O(10) MeV which decays long after BBN. We then investigate cosmological effects of a sterile neutrino decay. We formulate the injection spectrum of nonthermal photons induced by electrons and positrons generated at the nu_H decay, as a function of the nu_H mass and the photon temperature. We then consistently solve (1) the cosmic thermal history, (2) nonthermal nucleosynthesis induced by the nonthermal photons, (3) the baryon-to-photon ratio eta, and (4) the effective neutrino number N_eff. Amounts of energy injection at the nu_H decay are constrained from limits on primordial D and 7Li abundances, the N_eff value, and the cosmic microwave background energy spectrum. We find that 7Be is photodisintegrated and the Li problem is partially solved for the lifetime 10^4-10^5 s and the mass >~ 14 MeV. 7Be destruction by more than a factor of 3 is not possible because of an associated D over-destruction. In the parameter region, the eta value is decreased slightly, while the N_eff value is increased by a factor of <~ 1. In this study, errors in photodisintegration cross sections of 7Be(g, a)3He and 7Li(g, a)3H that have propagated through literatures are corrected. It is then found that the new photodisintegration rates are 2.3 to 2.5 times smaller than the old rates, so that efficiencies of 7Be and 7Li photodisintegration are significantly smaller.

A new determination of the primordial He abundance using the He i λ10830 Å emission line: cosmological implications

We present near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the high-intensity HeI 10830 emission line in 45 low-metallicity HII regions. We combined these NIR data with spectroscopic data in the optical range to derive the primordial He abundance. The use of the HeI 10830A line, the intensity of which is very sensitive to the density of the HII region, greatly improves the determination of the physical conditions in the He^+ zone. This results in a considerably tighter Y - O/H linear regression compared to all previous studies. We extracted a final sample of 28 HII regions with Hbeta equivalent width EW(Hbeta)>150A, excitation parameter O^2+/O>0.8, and with helium mass fraction Y derived with an accuracy better than 3%. With this final sample we derived a primordial He mass fraction Yp = 0.2551+/-0.0022. The derived value of Yp is higher than the one predicted by the standard big bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN) model. Using our derived Yp together with D/H = (2.53+/-0.04)x10^-5, and the chi^2 technique, we found that the best agreement between these light element abundances is achieved in a cosmological model with a baryon mass density Omega_b h^2 = 0.0240+/-0.0017 (68% CL), +/-0.0028 (95.4% CL), +/-0.0034 (99% CL) and an effective number of neutrino species Neff = 3.58+/-0.25 (68% CL), +/-0.40 (95.4% CL), +/-0.50 (99% CL). A non-standard value of Neff is preferred at the 99% CL, implying the possible existence of additional types of neutrino species.

REVISED BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS WITH LONG-LIVED, NEGATIVELY CHARGED MASSIVE PARTICLES: UPDATED RECOMBINATION RATES, PRIMORDIAL 9 Be NUCLEOSYNTHESIS, AND IMPACT OF NEW 6 Li LIMITS

We extensively reanalyze effects of a long-lived negatively charged massive particle, X-, on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). The BBN model with an X- particle was originally motivated by the discrepancy between 6,7Li abundances predicted in standard BBN model and those inferred from observations of metal-poor stars. In this model 7Be is destroyed via the recombination with an X- particle followed by radiative proton capture. We calculate precise rates for the radiative recombinations of 7Be, 7Li, 9Be, and 4He with X-. In nonresonant rates we take into account respective partial waves of scattering states and respective bound states. The finite sizes of nuclear charge distributions cause deviations in wave functions from those of point-charge nuclei. For a heavy X- mass, m_X \gtrsim 100 GeV, the d-wave --> 2P transition is most important for 7Li and 7,9Be, unlike recombination with electrons. Our new nonresonant rate of the 7Be recombination for m_X=1000 GeV is more than 6 times larger than the existing rate. Moreover, we suggest a new important reaction for 9Be production: the recombination of 7Li and X- followed by deuteron capture. We derive binding energies of X-nuclei along with reaction rates and Q-values. We then calculate BBN and find that the amount of 7Be destruction depends significantly on the charge distribution of 7Be. Finally, updated constraints on the initial abundance and the lifetime of the X- are derived in the context of revised upper limits to the primordial 6Li abundance. Parameter regions for the solution to the 7Li problem are revised, and the primordial 9Be abundances is revised.

General limit on the relation between abundances of D andLi7in big bang nucleosynthesis with nucleon injections

The injections of energetic hadrons could have occurred in the early universe by decays of hypothetical long-lived exotic particles. The injections induce the showers of nonthermal hadrons via nuclear scattering. Neutrons generated at these events can react with $^7$Be nuclei and reduce $^7$Be abundance solving a problem of the primordial $^7$Li abundance. We suggest that thermal neutron injection is a way to derive a model independent conservative limit on the relation between abundances of D and $^7$Li in a hadronic energy injection model. We emphasize that an uncertainty in cross sections of inelastic $n+p$ scattering affects the total number of induced neutrons, which determines final abundances of D and $^7$Li. In addition, the annihilations of antinucleons with $^4$He result in higher D abundance and trigger nonthermal $^6$Li production. It is concluded that a reduction of $^7$Li abundance from a value in the standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model down to an observational two $\sigma$ upper limit is necessarily accompanied by an undesirable increase of D abundance up to at least an observational 12 $\sigma$ upper limit from observations of quasi-stellar object absorption line systems. The effects of antinucleons and secondary particles produced in the hadronic showers always lead to a severer constraint. The BBN models involving any injections of extra neutrons are thus unlikely to reproduce a small $^7$Li abundance consistent with observations.

PRECISION MEASURES OF THE PRIMORDIAL ABUNDANCE OF DEUTERIUM

We report the discovery of deuterium absorption in the very metal-poor ([Fe/H] = -2.88) damped Lyman-alpha system at z_abs = 3.06726 toward the QSO SDSS J1358+6522. On the basis of 13 resolved D I absorption lines and the damping wings of the H I Lyman alpha transition, we have obtained a new, precise measure of the primordial abundance of deuterium. Furthermore, to bolster the present statistics of precision D/H measures, we have reanalyzed all of the known deuterium absorption-line systems that satisfy a set of strict criteria. We have adopted a blind analysis strategy (to remove human bias), and developed a software package that is specifically designed for precision D/H abundance measurements. For this reanalyzed sample of systems, we obtain a weighted mean of (D/H)_p = (2.53 +/- 0.04) x 10^-5, corresponding to a Universal baryon density100 Omega_b h^2 = 2.202 +/- 0.046 for the standard model of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. By combining our measure of (D/H)_p with observations of the cosmic microwave background, we derive the effective number of light fermion species, N_eff = 3.28 +/- 0.28. We therefore rule out the existence of an additional (sterile) neutrino (i.e. N_eff = 4.046) at 99.3 percent confidence (2.7 sigma), provided that N_eff and the baryon-to-photon ratio (eta_10) did not change between BBN and recombination. We also place a strong bound on the neutrino degeneracy parameter, xi_D = +0.05 +/- 0.13 based only on the CMB+(D/H)_p observations. Combining xi_D with the current best literature measure of Y_p, we find |xi| <= +0.062. In future, improved measurements of several key reaction rates, in particular d(p,gamma)3He, and further measures of (D/H)_p with a precision comparable to those considered here, should allow even more stringent limits to be placed on new physics beyond the standard model.

Primordial4He abundance: a determination based on the largest sample of H II regions with a methodology tested on model H II regions

We verified the validity of the empirical method to derive the 4He abundance used in our previous papers by applying it to CLOUDY (v13.01) models. Using newly published HeI emissivities, for which we present convenient fits as well as the output CLOUDY case B hydrogen and HeI line intensities, we found that the empirical method is able to reproduce the input CLOUDY 4He abundance with an accuracy of better than 1%. The CLOUDY output data also allowed us to derive the non-recombination contribution to the intensities of the strongest Balmer hydrogen Halpha, Hbeta, Hgamma, and Hdelta emission lines and the ionisation correction factors for He. With these improvements we used our updated empirical method to derive the 4He abundances and to test corrections for several systematic effects in a sample of 1610 spectra of low-metallicity extragalactic HII regions, the largest sample used so far. From this sample we extracted a subsample of 111 HII regions with Hbeta equivalent width EW(Hbeta) > 150A, with excitation parameter x = O^{2+}/O > 0.8, and with helium mass fraction Y derived with an accuracy better than 3%. With this subsample we derived the primordial 4He mass fraction Yp = 0.254+/-0.003 from linear regression Y-O/H. The derived value of Yp is higher at the 68% confidence level (CL) than that predicted by the standard big bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN) model, possibly implying the existence of different types of neutrino species in addition to the three known types of active neutrinos. Using the most recently derived primordial abundances D/H = (2.60+/-0.12)x10^{-5} and Yp = 0.254+/-0.003 and the chi^2 technique, we found that the best agreement between abundances of these light elements is achieved in a cosmological model with baryon mass density Omegab h^2 = 0.0234+/-0.0019 (68% CL) and an effective number of the neutrino species Neff = 3.51+/-0.35 (68% CL).

A drop in the [formula omitted] reaction at low energies

The low-energy astrophysical S factors of the Li6(p,γ)Be7 reaction have been investigated on a 320 kV platform at the Institute of Modern Physics in Lanzhou. The experimental S factor of this reaction shows an interesting sizable drop contrary to any existing theoretical expectations at energies below 200 keV. Such drop has not been fully understood yet and may reflect a novel reaction mechanism. The appearance of an interesting new positive-parity 1/2+ or 3/2+ resonance at Ec.m.≈195 keV is discussed. This study shows the danger of extrapolating experimental data over too large an energy range and demonstrates the need for careful direct experimental studies of reaction cross sections at or near stellar energies. In addition, our new results are discussed in the framework of a SUSY assisted Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) model.

The lithium isotopic ratio in very metal-poor stars

Un-evolved, very metal-poor stars are the most important tracers of the cosmic abundance of lithium in the early universe. Combining the standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis model with Galactic production through cosmic ray spallation, these stars at [Fe/H]<-2 are expected to show an undetectably small 6Li/7Li isotopic signature. Evidence to the contrary may necessitate an additional pre-galactic production source or a revision of the standard model of Big Bang nucleosynthesis. We revisit the isotopic analysis of four halo stars, two with claimed 6Li-detections in the literature, to investigate the influence of improved model atmospheres and line formation treatment. For the first time, a combined 3D, NLTE (non-local thermodynamic equilibrium) modelling technique for Li, Na, and Ca lines is utilised to constrain the intrinsic line-broadening and to determine the Li isotopic ratio. We discuss the influence of 3D NLTE effects on line profile shapes and assess the realism of our modelling using the Ca excitation and ionisation balance. By accounting for NLTE line formation in realistic 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres, we can model the Li resonance line and other neutral lines with a consistency that is superior to LTE, with no need for additional line asymmetry caused by the presence of 6Li. Contrary to the results from 1D and 3D LTE modelling, no star in our sample has a significant 2-sigma detection of the lighter isotope in NLTE. Over a large parameter space, NLTE modelling systematically reduces the best-fit Li isotopic ratios by up to five percentage points. As a bi-product, we also present the first ever 3D NLTE Ca and Na abundances of halo stars, which reveal significant departures from LTE. The observational support for a significant and non-standard 6Li production source in the early universe is substantially weakened by our findings.

BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS WITH A NON-MAXWELLIAN DISTRIBUTION

The abundances of light elements based on the big bang nucleosynthesis model are calculated using the Tsallis non-extensive statistics. The impact of the variation of the non-extensive parameter $q$ from the unity value is compared to observations and to the abundance yields from the standard big bang model. We find large differences between the reaction rates and the abundance of light elements calculated with the extensive and the non-extensive statistics. We found that the observations are consistent with a non-extensive parameter q = 1 + 0.05 - 0.12, indicating that a large deviation from the Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics (q = 1) is highly unlikely.

PRODUCTION OF9Be THROUGH THE α-FUSION REACTION OF METAL-POOR COSMIC RAYS AND STELLAR FLARES

Spectroscopic observations of metal-poor stars have indicated possible 6Li abundances that are much larger than the primordial abundance predicted in the standard big bang nucleosynthesis model. Possible mechanisms of 6Li production in metal-poor stars include pregalactic and cosmological cosmic ray (CR) nucleosynthesis and nucleosynthesis by flare-accelerated nuclides. We study 9Be production via two-step alpha-fusion reactions of CR or flare-accelerated 3,4He through 6He and 6,7Li, in pregalactic structure, intergalactic medium, and stellar surfaces. We solve transfer equations of CR or flare particles and calculate nuclear yields of 6He, 6,7Li, and 9Be taking account of probabilities of processing 6He and 6,7Li into 9Be via fusions with alpha particles. Yield ratios, i.e., 9Be/6Li, are then calculated for the CR and flare nucleosynthesis models. We suggest that the future observations of 9Be in metal-poor stars may find enhanced abundances originating from metal-poor CR or flare activities.

Developing new methods to investigate nuclear physics input to the cosmological lithium problem

A significant challenge to nuclear astrophysics is the cosmological lithium problem, where models of Big Bang nucleosynthesis indicate abundances of 7 Li two to four times larger than what is inferred via spec- troscopic measurements of metal-poor stars. Recent experimental techniques developed for nuclear reaction studies at energies near the fusion barrier, if extended to reactions of astrophysical interest, may help under- stand nuclear reactions that can affect the production of 7 Li during the Big Bang. Experiments at the ANU, using new experimental techniques, have provided complete pictures of the breakup mechanisms of light nuclei in collisions with heavy targets, such as 208 Pb and 209 Bi (1). These experiments revealed dominant breakup mechanisms which had not even been considered in theoretical models. The study of the breakup of 6 Li and 7 Li following interactions with 58,64 Ni and 27 Al acts as a stepping stone from this previous work towards future ex- perimental studies of breakup reactions of astrophysical relevance. In all cases studied, breakup is dominantly triggered by nucleon transfer between the colliding partners, but the transfer mechanisms are different. The findings of these experiments and experimental considerations for extensions to reactions of light nuclei, such as d + 7 Be, will be presented.

Signatures of long-lived exotic strongly interacting massive particles on light element abundances through reactions triggered by the particles

A primordial 7Li abundance inferred from observations of metal-poor halo stars is a factor of about three smaller than predictions of standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model. Some particle models beyond the standard model include heavy long-lived colored particles with mass much larger than 1 GeV. They would be confined inside exotic heavy hadrons, i.e., strongly interacting massive particles. We have found possible reactions which destroy 7Be and 7Li in the scenario of BBN including a long-lived sub-strongly interacting massive particle (sub-SIMP, X). The destruction is associated with non radiative X captures of the nuclei, and it can be realized only if the interaction strength between an X and a nucleon is properly weaker than that between two nucleons. Binding energies of nuclei to an X and nuclear reaction rates associated with the X are estimated. We perform a network BBN calculation using the estimated rates, and suggest that the 7Li problem can be solved if long-lived sub-SIMPs have existed.

Updated constraint on a primordial magnetic field during big bang nucleosynthesis and a formulation of field effects

A new upper limit on the amplitude of primordial magnetic field (PMF) is derived by a comparison between a calculation of elemental abundances in big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model and the latest observational constraints on the abundances. Updated nuclear reaction rates are adopted in the calculation. Effects of PMF on the abundances are consistently taken into account in the numerical calculation with the precise formulation of changes in physical variables. We find that abundances of 3He and 6Li increase while that of 7Li decreases when the PMF amplitude increases, in the case of the baryon-to-photon ratio determined from the measurement of cosmic microwave background radiation. We derive a constraint on the present amplitude of PMF, i.e., B(0)<1.5 micro G [corresponding to the amplitude less than 2.0x10^{11} G at BBN temperature of T=10^9 K] based on the rigorous calculation.