Abstract
We extend the model-independent likelihood analysis of big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) based on 4He and 7Li to allow for numbers of degrees of freedom which differ from the standard model value characterized by Nv = 3. We use the two-dimensional likelihood functions to simultaneously constrain the baryon-to-photon ratio and the number of light neutrinos. The upper limit thus obtained is Nv < 4.0 (at 95% C.L.). We also consider the consequences if recent observations of deuterium in high-redshift QSO absorption-line systems (QSOALS) are confirmed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 27-34 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Astroparticle Physics |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1997 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thankC . Copi, B. Fields,K . Kainulainena, nd T. Walker for usefulc onversationsT.h is work was supported in part by DOE grant DE-FG02-94ER40823a t Minnesota,a nd by NASA grant NAG5-2835a t Florida.