Predicting big bang deuterium

N. Hata; R. J. Scherrer; G. Steigman; D. Thomas; T. P. Walker

doi:10.1086/176845

Predicting big bang deuterium

N. Hata, R. J. Scherrer, G. Steigman, D. Thomas, T. P. Walker

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics (TMED)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present new upper and lower bounds to the primordial abundances of deuterium and ³He based on observational data from the solar system and the interstellar medium. Independent of any model for the primordial production of the elements we find (at the 95% C.L.): 1.5 × 10^-5 ≤ (D/H)_P ≤ 10.0 × 10^-5 and (³He/H)_P ≤ 2.6 × 10^-5. When combined with the predictions of standard big bang nucleosynthesis, these constraints lead to a 95% C.L. bound on the primordial abundance deuterium: (D/H)_best = (3.5_-1.8^+2.7) × 10^-5. Measurements of deuterium absorption in the spectra of high-redshift QSOs will directly test this prediction. The implications of this prediction for the primordial abundances of ⁴He and ⁷Li are discussed, as well as those for the universal density of baryons.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	637-640
Number of pages	4
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	458
Issue number	2 PART I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/176845
State	Published - 1996

Keywords

Elementary particles
ISM: abundances
Nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances
Solar system: general

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10.1086/176845

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title = "Predicting big bang deuterium",

abstract = "We present new upper and lower bounds to the primordial abundances of deuterium and 3He based on observational data from the solar system and the interstellar medium. Independent of any model for the primordial production of the elements we find (at the 95% C.L.): 1.5 × 10-5 ≤ (D/H)P ≤ 10.0 × 10-5 and (3He/H)P ≤ 2.6 × 10-5. When combined with the predictions of standard big bang nucleosynthesis, these constraints lead to a 95% C.L. bound on the primordial abundance deuterium: (D/H)best = (3.5-1.8+2.7) × 10-5. Measurements of deuterium absorption in the spectra of high-redshift QSOs will directly test this prediction. The implications of this prediction for the primordial abundances of 4He and 7Li are discussed, as well as those for the universal density of baryons.",

keywords = "Elementary particles, ISM: abundances, Nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances, Solar system: general",

author = "N. Hata and Scherrer, {R. J.} and G. Steigman and D. Thomas and Walker, {T. P.}",

year = "1996",

doi = "10.1086/176845",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "637--640",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Predicting big bang deuterium

AU - Hata, N.

AU - Scherrer, R. J.

AU - Steigman, G.

AU - Thomas, D.

AU - Walker, T. P.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - We present new upper and lower bounds to the primordial abundances of deuterium and 3He based on observational data from the solar system and the interstellar medium. Independent of any model for the primordial production of the elements we find (at the 95% C.L.): 1.5 × 10-5 ≤ (D/H)P ≤ 10.0 × 10-5 and (3He/H)P ≤ 2.6 × 10-5. When combined with the predictions of standard big bang nucleosynthesis, these constraints lead to a 95% C.L. bound on the primordial abundance deuterium: (D/H)best = (3.5-1.8+2.7) × 10-5. Measurements of deuterium absorption in the spectra of high-redshift QSOs will directly test this prediction. The implications of this prediction for the primordial abundances of 4He and 7Li are discussed, as well as those for the universal density of baryons.

AB - We present new upper and lower bounds to the primordial abundances of deuterium and 3He based on observational data from the solar system and the interstellar medium. Independent of any model for the primordial production of the elements we find (at the 95% C.L.): 1.5 × 10-5 ≤ (D/H)P ≤ 10.0 × 10-5 and (3He/H)P ≤ 2.6 × 10-5. When combined with the predictions of standard big bang nucleosynthesis, these constraints lead to a 95% C.L. bound on the primordial abundance deuterium: (D/H)best = (3.5-1.8+2.7) × 10-5. Measurements of deuterium absorption in the spectra of high-redshift QSOs will directly test this prediction. The implications of this prediction for the primordial abundances of 4He and 7Li are discussed, as well as those for the universal density of baryons.

KW - Elementary particles

KW - ISM: abundances

KW - Nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances

KW - Solar system: general

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DO - 10.1086/176845

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