Catalyzed Big-Bang nucleosynthesis

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-616
Author(s):  
M Pospelov
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Electroweak Scale ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
Subsequent Decay ◽  
Standard Channel

We point out that the existence of metastable, τ >103 s, negatively charged electroweak-scale particles (X–) alters the predictions for lithium and other primordial elemental abundances for A > 4 via the formation of bound states with nuclei during Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). In particular, we show that the bound states of X– with helium, formed at temperatures of about T = 108 K, lead to the catalytic enhancement of 6Li production, which is eight orders of magnitude more efficient than the standard channel. In particle physics models, where subsequent decay of X– does not lead to large nonthermal BBN effects, this directly translates to the level of sensitivity to the number density of long-lived X– particles (τ > 105 s) relative to entropy of nX – / s [Formula: see text] 3 × 10–17, which is one of the most stringent probes of electroweak scale remnants known to date. It is also argued that unstable charged particles with lifetime of order ~2000 s may naturally lead to the depletion of 7Li by a factor of two, making it consistent with observationally determined abundances. PACS No.: 98.80.Ft

EFFECT OF NEGATIVELY-CHARGED MASSIVE PARTICLES ON BIG-BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS AND A SOLUTION TO THE LITHIUM PROBLEMS

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (17n20) ◽  
pp. 1668-1674
Author(s):  
MOTOHIKO KUSAKABE ◽  
TOSHITAKA KAJINO ◽  
RICHARD N. BOYD ◽  
TAKASHI YOSHIDA ◽  
GRANT J. MATHEWS
Keyword(s):  
Charged Particle ◽  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Light Nuclei ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Wmap Data ◽  
Ionization Processes

Spectroscopic observations of metal poor halo stars give an indication of a possible primordial plateau of 6 Li abundance as a function of metallicity similar to that for 7 Li . The inferred abundance of 6 Li is ~1000 times larger than that predicted by standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) for the baryon-to-photon ratio inferred from the WMAP data, and that of 7 Li is about 3 times smaller than the prediction. We study a possible solution to both the problems of underproduction of 6 Li and overproduction of 7 Li in BBN. This solution involves a hypothetical massive, negatively-charged particle that would bind to the light nuclei produced in BBN. The particle gets bound to the existing nuclei after the usual BBN, and a second epoch of nucleosynthesis can occur among nuclei bound to the particles. We numerically carry out a fully dynamical BBN calculation, simultaneously solving the recombination and ionization processes of negatively-charged particles by normal and particle-bound nuclei as well as many possible nuclear reactions among them. It is confirmed that BBN in the presence of these hypothetical particles can solve the two Li abundance problems simultaneously.

scholarly journals Lithium pollution of a white dwarf records the accretion of an extrasolar planetesimal

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 371 (6525) ◽  
pp. 168-172
Author(s):  
B. C. Kaiser ◽  
J. C. Clemens ◽  
S. Blouin ◽  
P. Dufour ◽  
R. J. Hegedus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Lithium Abundance ◽  
Sodium Potassium ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
Exoplanetary Systems ◽  
Gaia Dr2

Tidal disruption and subsequent accretion of planetesimals by white dwarfs can reveal the elemental abundances of rocky bodies in exoplanetary systems. Those abundances provide information on the composition of the nebula from which the systems formed, which is analogous to how meteorite abundances inform our understanding of the early Solar System. We report the detection of lithium, sodium, potassium, and calcium in the atmosphere of the white dwarf Gaia DR2 4353607450860305024, which we ascribe to the accretion of a planetesimal. Using model atmospheres, we determine abundance ratios of these elements, and, with the exception of lithium, they are consistent with meteoritic values in the Solar System. We compare the measured lithium abundance with measurements in old stars and with expectations from Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

scholarly journals Review on effects of long-lived negatively charged massive particles on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (08) ◽  
pp. 1741004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motohiko Kusakabe ◽  
Grant J. Mathews ◽  
Toshitaka Kajino ◽  
Myung-Ki Cheoun
Keyword(s):  
Bound States ◽  
Massive Particle ◽  
Reaction Network ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Recombination Rates ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Proton Capture ◽  
Atomic Size ◽  
The Big Bang ◽  
Kaluza Klein

We review important reactions in the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) model involving a long-lived negatively charged massive particle, [Formula: see text], which is much heavier than nucleons. This model can explain the observed 7Li abundances of metal-poor stars, and predicts a primordial 9Be abundance that is larger than the standard BBN prediction. In the BBN epoch, nuclei recombine with the [Formula: see text] particle. Because of the heavy [Formula: see text] mass, the atomic size of bound states [Formula: see text] is as small as the nuclear size. The nonresonant recombination rates are then dominated by the [Formula: see text]-wave [Formula: see text] transition for 7Li and [Formula: see text]Be. The 7Be destruction occurs via a recombination with the [Formula: see text] followed by a proton capture, and the primordial 7Li abundance is reduced. Also, the 9Be production occurs via the recombination of 7Li and [Formula: see text] followed by deuteron capture. The initial abundance and the lifetime of the [Formula: see text] particles are constrained from a BBN reaction network calculation. We derived parameter region for the 7Li reduction allowed in supersymmetric or Kaluza–Klein (KK) models. We find that either the selectron, smuon, KK electron or KK muon could be candidates for the [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] TeV, while the stau and KK tau cannot.

scholarly journals Big Bang nucleosynthesis with long-lived strongly interacting relic particles

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S268) ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
Motohiko Kusakabe ◽  
Toshitaka Kajino ◽  
Takashi Yoshida ◽  
Grant J. Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Beta Decay ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Interaction Strength ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Heavy Elements ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Strongly Interacting

AbstractWe study effects of relic long-lived strongly interacting massive particles (X particles) on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). The X particle is assumed to have existed during the BBN epoch, but decayed long before detected. The interaction strength between an X and a nucleon is assumed to be similar to that between nucleons. Rates of nuclear reactions and beta decay of X-nuclei are calculated, and the BBN in the presence of neutral charged X0 particles is calculated taking account of captures of X0 by nuclei. As a result, the X0 particles form bound states with normal nuclei during a relatively early epoch of BBN leading to the production of heavy elements. Constraints on the abundance of X0 are derived from observations of primordial light element abundances. Particle models which predict long-lived colored particles with lifetimes longer than ~200 s are rejected. This scenario prefers the production of 9Be and 10B. There might, therefore, remain a signature of the X particle on primordial abundances of those elements. Possible signatures left on light element abundances expected in four different models are summarized.

Big-bang nucleosynthesis as a probe of cosmology and particle physics

1981 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Olive ◽  
D. N. Schramm ◽  
M. S. Turner ◽  
J. Yang ◽  
G. Steigman
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

scholarly journals Neutrinos and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Steigman
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Weak Interactions ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Baryon Density ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Lepton Asymmetry ◽  
Lithium Abundance ◽  
Dark Radiation ◽  
Cosmic Neutrino Background ◽  
Neutrino Background

According to the standard models of particle physics and cosmology, there should be a background of cosmic neutrinos in the present Universe, similar to the cosmic microwave photon background. The weakness of the weak interactions renders this neutrino background undetectable with current technology. The cosmic neutrino background can, however, be probed indirectly through its cosmological effects on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. In this BBN review, focused on neutrinos and more generally on dark radiation, the BBN constraints on the number of “equivalent neutrinos” (dark radiation), on the baryon asymmetry (baryon density), and on a possible lepton asymmetry (neutrino degeneracy) are reviewed and updated. The BBN constraints on dark radiation and on the baryon density following from considerations of the primordial abundances of deuterium and helium-4 are in excellent agreement with the complementary results from the CMB, providing a suggestive, but currently inconclusive, hint of the presence of dark radiation, and they constrain any lepton asymmetry. For all the cases considered here there is a “lithium problem”: the BBN-predicted lithium abundance exceeds the observationally inferred primordial value by a factor of~3.

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