The r-process constitutes one of the major challenges in nuclear astrophysics. Its astrophysical site has not yet been identified but there is observational evidence suggesting that at least two possible sites should contribute to the solar system abundance of r-process elements and that the r-process responsible for the production of elements heavier than Z=56 operates quite robustly producing always the same relative abundances. From the nuclear-physics point of view the r-process requires the knowledge of a large number of reaction rates involving exotic nuclei. These include neutron capture rates, beta-decays and fission rates, the latter for the heavier nuclei produced in the r-process. We have developed for the first time a complete database of reaction rates that in addition to neutron-capture rates and beta-decay half-lives includes all possible reactions that can induce fission (neutron-capture, beta-decay and spontaneous fission) and the corresponding fission yields. In addition, we have implemented these reaction rates in a fully implicit reaction network. We have performed r-process calculations for the neutrino-driven wind scenario to explore whether or not fission can contribute to provide a robust r-process pattern.
The nucleosynthesis and other observable consequences of a nova outburst depend sensitively on the details of the thermonuclear runaway which initiates the outburst. One important source of uncertainty in our current models is the nuclear reaction data used as input for the evolutionary calculations. We present preliminary results of the first analyses of the impact on nova nucleosynthesis of all reaction rate uncertainties considered simultaneously.
The sources of nuclear uncertainties in nova nucleosynthesis have been identified using hydrodynamical nova models. Experimental efforts have followed and significantly reduced those uncertainties. This is important for the evaluation of nova contribution to galactic chemical evolution, gamma--ray astronomy and possibly presolar grain studies. In particular, estimations of expected gamma-ray fluxes are essential for the planning of observations with existing or future satellites.
Type I X-ray bursts are violent stellar events that take place on the H/He-rich envelopes of accreting neutron stars. We have investigated the role played by uncertainties in nuclear processes on the nucleosynthesis accompanying these explosive phenomena. Two different approaches have been adopted, in the framework of post-processing calculations. In the first one, nuclear rates are varied individually within uncertainties. Ten different models, covering the characteristic parameter space for these stellar events, have been considered. The second, somewhat complementary approach involves a Mon…
We study the efficiency and sensitivity of r-process nucleosynthesis to 18 light-element nuclear reaction rates. We adopt empirical power-law relations to parameterize the reaction sensitivities. We utilize two different hydrodynamic models for the neutrino-driven winds in order to study the dependence of our result on supernova wind models. We also utilize an exponential model to approximate a wide variety of other plausible conditions for the r-process. We identify several specific nuclear reactions among light neutron-rich nuclei that play a critical role in determining the final r-process …
We present a detailed study of inhomogeneous Big Bang nucleosynthesis where, for the first time, nuclear reactions are coupled to all significant fluctuation dissipation processes. Theses processes include neutrino heat transport, baryon diffusion, photon diffusive heat transport, and hydrodynamic expansion with photon-electron Thomson drag. Light element abundance yields are presented for broad ranges of initial amplitudes and length scales for spherically condensed fluctuations. The $^2$H, $^3$He, $^4$He, and $^7$Li nucleosynthesis yields are found to be inconsistent with observationally inf…
We present a nucleosynthesis calculation of a 25 solar mass star of solar composition that includes all relevant isotopes up to polonium. In particular, all stable isotopes and necessary nuclear reaction rates are covered. We follow the stellar evolution from hydrogen burning till iron core collapse and simulate the explosion using a ``piston'' approach. We discuss the influence of two key nuclear reaction rates, C12(a,g) and Ne22(a,n), on stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. The former significantly influences the resulting core sizes (iron, silicon, oxygen) and the overall presupernova str…
Simulations of nucleosynthesis in astrophysical environments are at the intersection of nuclear physics reaction rate research and astrophysical applications, for example in the area of galactic chemical evolution or near-field cosmology. Unfortunately, at present the available yields for such applications are based on heterogeneous assumptions between the various contributing nuclear production sites, both in terms of modeling the thermodynamic environment itself as well as the choice of specifc nuclear reaction rates and compilations. On the other side, new nuclear reaction rate determinatio…
Preliminary results of a new set of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis calculations for massive stars are presented. These results were obtained with an extended reaction network up to Bi. The discussion focuses on the importance of nuclear rates in pre- and post-explosive nucleosynthesis. The need for further experiments to study specific reactions and nuclear properties (optical alpha+nucleus potentials) is emphasized.
One of the observational evidences in support of the "thermonuclear runaway model" for the classical nova outburst relies on the accompanying nucleosynthesis. In this paper, we stress the relevant role played by nucleosynthesis in our understanding of the nova phenomenon by constraining models through a comparison with both the atomic abundance determinations from the ejecta and the isotopic ratios measured in presolar grains of a likely nova origin. Furthermore, the endpoint of nova nucleosynthesis provides hints for the understanding of the mixing process responsible for the enhanced metalli…
Nuclear physics has a long and productive history of application to astrophysics which continues today. Advances in the accuracy and breadth of astrophysical data and theory drive the need for better experimental and theoretical understanding of the underlying nuclear physics. This paper will review some of the scenarios where nuclear physics plays an important role, including Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, neutrino production by our sun, nucleosynthesis in novae, the creation of elements heavier than iron, and neutron stars. Big-bang nucleosynthesis is concerned with the formation of elements with…
The identification of the astrophysical site and the specific conditions in which r-process nucleosynthesis takes place remain unsolved mysteries of astrophysics. The present paper emphasizes some important future challenges faced by nuclear physics in this problem, particularly in the determination of the radiative neutron capture rates by exotic nuclei close to the neutron drip line and the fission probabilities of heavy neutron-rich nuclei. These quantities are particularly relevant to determine the composition of the matter resulting from the decompression of initially cold neutron star ma…
This review concentrates on the two principle methods used to evolve nuclear abundances within astrophysical simulations, evolution via rate equations and via equilibria. Because in general the rate equations in nucleosynthetic applications form an extraordinarily stiff system, implicit methods have proven mandatory, leading to the need to solve moderately sized matrix equations. Efforts to improve the performance of such rate equation methods are focused on efficient solution of these matrix equations, by making best use of the sparseness of these matrices. Recent work to produce hybrid schem…
We determine the influence of a variation of the fundamental ``constants'' on the predicted helium abundance in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The analytic estimate is performed in two parts: the first step determines the dependence of the helium abundance on the nuclear physics parameters, while the second step relates those parameters to the fundamental couplings of particle physics. This procedure can incorporate in a flexible way the time variation of several couplings within a grand unified theory while keeping the nuclear physics computation separate from any model-dependent assumptions.
Nuclear gamma-ray lines constitute the most genuine diagnostic tool of nuclear astrophysics, since they allow for an unambiguous identification of isotopic species. Continuous improvement in instrumentation led to the discovery of several radioactive species in the past 15 years (Al26, Co56, Co57, Ti44) in various astrophysical sites (SN1987A and SN1991T, Cas-A, the Milky Way disk). These discoveries boosted theoretical activity on the nucleosynthesis of these radioactive isotopes and on the refined modelling of the corresponding sites, improving our knowledge on stellar evolution, stellar exp…
We investigate explosive nuclear burning in core collapse supernovae by coupling a tracer particle method to one and two-dimensional Eulerian hydrodynamic calculations. Adopting the most recent experimental and theoretical nuclear data, we compute the nucleosynthetic yields for 15 Msun stars with solar metallicity, by post-processing the temperature and density history of advected tracer particles. We compare our results to 1D calculations published in the literature.
We study the nucleosynthesis in accretion disk around compact object. When matter falls towards the compact object, due to interactions in nuclear species nuclear energy is released in the high temperature. In some region of parameter space nuclear energy becomes comparable or higher to the energy release due to the viscous effect of the disk. In those regions disk may become unstable. Also the changes of nuclear abundance in the disk are significant.
Properties of atomic nuclei important for the prediction of astrophysical reaction rates are reviewed. In the first part, a recent simulation of evolution and nucleosynthesis of stars between 15 and 25 solar masses is presented. This study is used to illustrate the required nuclear input as well as to give examples of the sensitivity to certain rates. The second part focusses on the prediction of nuclear rates in the statistical model (Hauser-Feshbach) and direct capture (DWBA). Some of the important ingredients are addressed. Discussed in more detail are approaches to predict level densities,…
The r-process, or the rapid neutron-capture process, of stellar nucleosynthesis is called for to explain the production of the stable (and some long-lived radioactive) neutron-rich nuclides heavier than iron that are observed in stars of various metallicities, as well as in the solar system. A very large amount of nuclear information is necessary in order to model the r-process. This concerns the static characteristics of a large variety of light to heavy nuclei between the valley of stability and the vicinity of the neutron-drip line, as well as their beta-decay branches or their reactivity. …
We update the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) calculations on the basis of the recent NACRE compilation of reaction rates. In particular, we calculate the uncertainties related to the nuclear reaction rates on the abundances of 7Li and compare our results with an other recent analysis.
We investigate the effects of thermonuclear reaction rate uncertainties on nova nucleosynthesis. One-zone nucleosynthesis calculations have been performed by adopting temperature-density-time profiles of the hottest hydrogen-burning zone (i.e., the region in which most of the nucleosynthesis takes place). We obtain our profiles from 7 different, recently published, hydrodynamic nova simulations covering peak temperatures in the range from Tpeak=0.145-0.418 GK. For each of these profiles, we individually varied the rates of 175 reactions within their associated errors and analyzed the resulting…
We study the r-process nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven winds of gravitational core collapse SNeII. Appropriate physical conditions are found for successful r-process nucleosynthesis, which meet with several features of heavy elements discovered recently in metal-deficient halo stars. We find also several difficulties which are not explained in the present wind models. We discuss quests for new insights in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and astronomy.
We analyze in details the standard Primordial Nucleosynthesis scenario. In particular we discuss the key theoretical issues which are involved in a detailed prediction of light nuclide abundances, as the weak reaction rates, neutrino decoupling and nuclear rate modeling. We also perform a new analysis of available data on the main nuclear processes entering the nucleosynthesis reaction network, with particular stress on their uncertainties as well as on their role in determining the corresponding uncertainties on light nuclide theoretical estimates. The current status of theoretical versus exp…
We examine the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts to variations in nuclear rates. As a large number of nuclear processes are involved in these phenomena -with the vast majority of reaction rates only determined theoretically due to the lack of any experimental information- our results can provide a means for determining which rates play significant roles in the thermonuclear runaway. These results may then motivate new experiments. For our studies, we have performed a comprehensive series of one-zone post-processing calculations in conjunction with various representative X-r…
Large excesses of Ca44 in certain presolar graphite and silicon carbide grains give strong evidence for Ti44 production in supernovae. Furthermore, recent detection of the Ti44 gamma-line from the Cas A SNR by CGRO/COMPTEL shows that radioactive Ti44 is produced in supernovae. These make the Ti44 abundance an observable diagnostic of supernovae. Through use of a nuclear reaction network, we have systematically varied reaction rates and groups of reaction rates to experimentally identify those that govern Ti44 abundance in core-collapse supernova nucleosynthesis. We survey the nuclear-rate depe…
We study the role of light neutron-rich nuclei during r-process nucleosynthesis in supernovae. Most previous studies of the r-process have concentrated on the reaction flow of heavy unstable nuclei. Although the nuclear reaction network includes a few thousand heavy nuclei, only limited reaction flow through light-mass nuclei near the stability line has been used in those studies. However, in a viable scenario of the r-process in neutrino-driven winds, the initial condition is a high-entropy hot plasma consisting of neutrons, protons, and electron-positron pairs experiencing an intense flux of…
We update the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) calculations on the basis of the recent NACRE compilation of reaction rates. We estimate the uncertainties related to the nuclear reaction rates on the abundances of D, 3He, 4He, 6Li, 7Li, 9Be, 10B and 11B of cosmological and astrophysical interest. We use lithium as the main indicator of the baryon density of the Universe, rather than deuterium.
The majority of nuclear reactions in astrophysics involve unstable nuclei which are not fully accessible by experiments yet. Therefore, there is high demand for reliable predictions of cross sections and reaction rates by theoretical means. The majority of reactions can be treated in the framework of the statistical model (Hauser-Feshbach). The global parametrizations of the nuclear properties needed for predictions far off stability probe our understanding of the strong force and take it to its limit. The sensitivity of astrophysical scenarios to nuclear inputs is illustrated in the framework…
We present a Monte Carlo method for direct incorporation of nuclear inputs in primordial nucleosynthesis calculations. This method is intended to remedy shortcomings of current error estimation, by eliminating intermediate data evaluations and working directly with experimental data, allowing error estimation based solely on published experimental uncertainties. This technique also allows simple incorporation of new data and reduction of errors with the introduction of more precise data. Application of our method indicates that previous error estimates on the calculated abundances were too lar…
It is shown that fusion of neutrons and protons to He-4 nuclei occurs in gamma-ray burst outflows in a process similar to big-bang nucleosynthesis in the early Universe. Only the surviving free neutrons can then decouple kinematically from the charged fluid so that the multi-GeV neutrino signal predicted from inelastic nuclear n-p collisions is significantly reduced. It is also argued that a sizeable fraction of ultra-high energy cosmic rays accelerated in gamma-ray bursts should be He-4 nuclei.
Gamma-ray spectrometers with high spectral resolution have been operated in space since 2002. Major efforts to understand instrumental response and backgrounds are a requird before detailed science interpretations can be derived; by now, high-resolution line-shape studies have resulted in significant astrophysical constraints, not only through studies of solar-flare details, but also for nuclear processes in the Galaxy: 44Ti from the Cas A supernova could only be detected in the low-energy lines at 68 and 78 keV, the 1157 keV line from the same decay is not seen; this constrains 44Ti ejection …
We study three processes that shape the nuclear composition of GRB fireballs: (1) neutronization in the central engine, (2) nucleosynthesis in the fireball as it expands and cools, and (3) spallation of nuclei in subsequent internal shocks. The fireballs are found to have a neutron excess and a marginally successful nucleosynthesis. They are composed of free nucleons, alpha-particles, and deuterium. A robust result is the survival of a significant neutron component, which has important implications. First, as shown in previous works, neutrons can lead to observable multi-GeV neutrino emission.…
Explosive nuclear burning in astrophysical environments produces unstable nuclei which again can be targets for subsequent reactions. In addition, it involves a large number of stable nuclides which are not fully explored by experiments, yet. Thus, it is necessary to be able to predict reaction cross sections and thermonuclear rates with the aid of theoretical models. Such predictions are also of interest for investigations at radioactive ion beam facilities. An extended library of theoretical cross sections and reaction rates is presented. The problem of alpha+nucleus potentials is addressed …
The astrophysical p process, which is responsible for the origin of the proton rich stable nuclei heavier than iron, was investigated using a full nuclear reaction network for a type II supernova explosion when the shock front passes through the O/Ne layer. Calculations were performed with a multi-layer model adopting the seed of a pre-explosion evolution of a 25 solar mass star. The reaction flux was calculated to determine the main reaction path and branching points responsible for synthesizing the proton rich nuclei. In order to investigate the impact of nuclear reaction rates on the predic…
The first part of the paper discusses nuclear properties relevant to predict compound reactions. The second part addresses direct reactions with special emphasis on direct neutron capture.
Explosive nucleosynthesis is a combination of the nuclear physics of thermonuclear reactions, and the hydrodynamics of the plasma in which the reactions occur. It depends upon the initial conditions---the stellar evolution up to the explosive instability, and the nature of the explosion mechanism. Some key issues for explosive nucleosynthesis are the interaction of burning with hydrodynamics, the degree of microscopic mixing in convective zones, and the breaking of spherical symmetry by convection and rotation. Recent experiments on high intensity lasers provides new opportunities for laborato…
Nucleocosmochronology involves the use of the abundances of radioactive nuclear species and their radiogenic decay daughters to establish the finite age of the elements and the time scale for their formation. While there exist radioactive products of several specific nucleosynthesis mechanisms that can reveal the histories of these mechanisms, it is the long lived actinide isotopes {232}Th, {235}U, and {238}U, formed in the r-process, that currently play the major role in setting the time scale of Galactic nucleosynthesis. Age determinations in the context of Galactic chemical evolution studie…
We present the results of fully dynamical r-process network calculations for the ejecta of neutron star mergers (NSMs). The late stages of the inspiral and the final violent coalescence of a neutron star binary have been calculated in detail using a 3D hydrodynamics code (Newtonian gravity plus backreaction forces emerging from the emission of gravitational waves) and a realistic nuclear equation of state. The found trajectories for the ejecta serve as input for dynamical r-process calculations where all relevant nuclear reactions (including beta-decays depositing nuclear energy in the expandi…
Proton-rich material in a state of nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) is one of the least studied regimes of nucleosynthesis. One reason for this is that after hydrogen burning, stellar evolution proceeds at conditions of equal number of neutrons and protons or at a slight degree of neutron-richness. Proton-rich nucleosynthesis in stars tends to occur only when hydrogen-rich material that accretes onto a white dwarf or neutron star explodes, or when neutrino interactions in the winds from a nascent proto-neutron star or collapsar-disk drive the matter proton-rich prior to or during the nucl…
We present the first calculations to follow the evolution of all stable nuclei and their radioactive progenitors in stellar models computed from the onset of central hydrogen burning through explosion as Type II supernovae. Calculations are performed for Pop I stars of 15, 19, 20, 21, and 25 M_sun using the most recently available experimental and theoretical nuclear data, revised opacity tables, neutrino losses, and weak interaction rates, and taking into account mass loss due to stellar winds. A novel ``adaptive'' reaction network is employed with a variable number of nuclei (adjusted each t…
We investigate the metallicity effect (measured by the original 22Ne content) on the detailed nucleosynthetic yields for 3D hydrodynamical simulations of the thermonuclear burning phase in SNe Ia. Calculations are based on post-processes of the ejecta, using passively advected tracer particles, as explained in details by Travaglio et al.(2004). The nuclear reaction network employed in computing the explosive nucleosynthesis contains 383 nuclear species. For this work we use the high resolution multi-point ignition (bubbles) model b30_3d_768 (Travaglio et al.2004 for the solar metallicity case)…
After decades of one-dimensional nucleosynthesis calculations, the growth of computational resources has meanwhile reached a level, which for the first time allows astrophysicists to consider performing routinely realistic multidimensional nucleosynthesis calculations in explosive and, to some extent, also in non-explosive environments. In the present contribution we attempt to give a short overview of the physical and numerical problems which are encountered in these simulations. In addition, we assess the accuracy that can be currently achieved in the computation of nucleosynthetic yields, u…
We investigate the big-bang nucleosynthesis in a Brans-Dicke model with a varying $Λ$ term using the Monte-Carlo method and likelihood analysis. It is found that the cosmic expansion rate differs appreciably from that of the standard model. The produced abundances of $^4$He, D, and barely Li are consistent with the observed ones within the uncertainties in nuclear reaction rates when the baryon to photon ratio $η= (5.47 - 6.64)\times 10^{-10}$, which is in agreement with the value deduced from WMAP.
The most energetic part of the electromagnetic spectrum bears the purest clues to the synthesis of atomic nuclei in the universe. The decay of radioactive species, synthesized in stellar environments and ejected into the interstellar medium, gives rise to specific gamma ray lines. The observations gathered up to now show evidence for radioactivities throughout the galactic disk, in young supernova remnants (Cas A, Vela), and in nearby extragalactic supernovae (SN 1987A, SN 1991T and SN1998bu), in the form of specific gamma ray lines resulting, respectively, from the radioactive decay of 26Al, …
A brief survey of nuclide abundances in the solar-system and in cosmic rays and of the believed mechanisms of their synthesis is given. The role of spallation processes in nucleosynthesis is discussed. A short review of recent measurements, compilations, calculations, and evaluations of spallation cross sections relevant to nuclear astrophysics is given as well. It is shown that in some past astrophysical simulations, old experimental nuclear data and theoretical cross sections that are in poor agreement with recent measurements and calculations were used. New astrophysical simulations using r…
We improve Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (SBBN) calculations taking into account new nuclear physics analyses (Descouvemont et al. 2003). Using a Monte-Carlo technique, we calculate the abundances of light nuclei versus the baryon to photon ratio.The results concerning omegab are compared to relevant astrophysical and cosmological observations. Consistency between WMAP, SBBN results and D/H data strengthens the deduced baryon density and has interesting consequences on cosmic chemical evolution. A significant discrepancy between the calculated Li-7 deduced from WMAP and the Spite plateau i…
We describe a program for computing the abundances of light elements produced during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis which is publicly available at http://parthenope.na.infn.it/. Starting from nuclear statistical equilibrium conditions the program solves the set of coupled ordinary differential equations, follows the departure from chemical equilibrium of nuclear species, and determines their asymptotic abundances as function of several input cosmological parameters as the baryon density, the number of effective neutrino, the value of cosmological constant and the neutrino chemical potential. The pro…
The theoretical predictions of big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) are dominated by uncertainties in the input nuclear reaction cross sections. In this paper, we examine the impact on BBN of the recent compilation of nuclear data and thermonuclear reactions rates by the NACRE collaboration. We confirm that the adopted rates do not make large overall changes in central values of predictions, but do affect the magnitude of the uncertainties in these predictions. Therefore, we then examine in detail the uncertainties in the individual reaction rates considered by NACRE. When the error estimates by NAC…
With analyzing the solar system abundance, we have found two universal scaling laws concerning the p- and s-nuclei. They indicate that the gamma-process in supernova (SN) explosions is the most promising origin of the p-nuclei that has been discussed with many possible nuclear reactions and sites for about fifty years. In addition the scalings provide new concepts: an universality of the gamma-process and a new nuclear cosmochronometer. We have carried out gamma-process nucleosynthesis calculations for typical core-collapse SN explosion models and the results satisfy the observed scalings.
This review concentrates on nucleosynthesis processes in general and their applications to massive stars and supernovae. A brief initial introduction is given to the physics in astrophysical plasmas which governs composition changes. We present the basic equations for thermonuclear reaction rates and nuclear reaction networks. The required nuclear physics input for reaction rates is discussed, i.e. cross sections for nuclear reactions, photodisintegrations, electron and positron captures, neutrino captures, inelastic neutrino scattering, and beta-decay half-lives. We examine especially the pre…
Big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have a long history together in the standard cosmology. The general concordance between the predicted and observed light element abundances provides a direct probe of the universal baryon density. Recent CMB anisotropy measurements, particularly the observations performed by the WMAP satellite, examine this concordance by independently measuring the cosmic baryon density. Key to this test of concordance is a quantitative understanding of the uncertainties in the BBN light element abundance predictions. These uncertainties…
Some recent efforts in compiling data for astrophysical purposes are introduced, which were discussed during a JINA-CARINA Collaboration meeting on "Nuclear Physics Data Compilation for Nucleosynthesis Modeling" held at the ECT* in Trento/ Italy from May 29th- June 3rd, 2007. The main goal of this collaboration is to develop an updated and unified nuclear reaction database for modeling a wide variety of stellar nucleosynthesis scenarios. Presently a large number of different reaction libraries (REACLIB) are used by the astrophysics community. The "JINA Reaclib Database" on http://www.nscl.msu.…
We explore neutrino capture during r-process nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven ejecta from nascent neutron stars. We focus on the interplay between charged-current weak interactions and element synthesis, and we delineate the important role of equilibrium nuclear dynamics. During the period of coexistence of free nucleons and light and/or heavy nuclei, electron neutrino capture inhibits the r-process. At all stages, capture on free neutrons has a larger impact than capture on nuclei. However, neutrino capture on heavey nuclei by itself, if it is very strong, is also detrimental to the r-proce…
B.S. Davids {\em et al.} make the explicit assumption that radiative widths of analog states in \ne22 and \mg22 are equal. We demonstrate that this misapplication of iso-spin symmetry leads to very wrong results. Considerations of elementary nuclear structure suggests that such an assumption can be inaccurate by a large factor (in \mg22), as is evident from a comparison with recent measurements of radiative width in \mg22. Estimates of radiative widths from analog transitions are common but often wrong (e.g. in \mg22) and should not be considered a useful tool in nuclear astrophysics.
Motivated by the recent measurement of the primeval abundance of deuterium, we re-examine the nuclear inputs to big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Using Monte-Carlo realization of the nuclear cross-section data to directly estimate the theoretical uncertainties for the yields of D, 3-He and 7-Li, we show that previous estimates were a factor of 2 too large. We sharpen the BBN determination of the baryon density based upon deuterium, rho_B = (3.6 +/- 0.4) * 10^{-31} g/cm^3 (Omega_B h^2 = 0.019 +/- 0.0024), which leads to a predicted 4-He abundance, Y_P = 0.246 +/- 0.0014 and a stringent limit to t…
Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is the earliest sensitive probe of the values of many fundamental particle physics parameters. We have found the leading linear dependences of primordial abundances on all relevant parameters of the standard BBN code, including binding energies and nuclear reaction rates. This enables us to set limits on possible variations of fundamental parameters. We find that 7Li is expected to be significantly more sensitive than other species to many fundamental parameters, a result which also holds for variations of coupling strengths in grand unified (GUT) models. Our wor…
We analyze the effect of variation of fundamental couplings and mass scales on primordial nucleosynthesis in a systematic way. The first step establishes the response of primordial element abundances to the variation of a large number of nuclear physics parameters, including nuclear binding energies. We find a strong influence of the n-p mass difference (for the 4He abundance), of the nucleon mass (for deuterium) and of A=3,4,7 binding energies (for 3He, 6Li and 7Li). A second step relates the nuclear parameters to the parameters of the Standard Model of particle physics. The deuterium, and, a…
We present an up-to-date review of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). We discuss the main improvements which have been achieved in the past two decades on the overall theoretical framework, summarize the impact of new experimental results on nuclear reaction rates, and critically re-examine the astrophysical determinations of light nuclei abundances. We report then on how BBN can be used as a powerful test of new physics, constraining a wide range of ideas and theoretical models of fundamental interactions beyond the standard model of strong and electroweak forces and Einstein's general relativit…
We investigate the dependence of the nucleon-nucleon force in the deuteron system on the values of coupling strengths at high energy, which will in general depend on the geometry of extra dimensions. The stability of deuterium at all times after nucleosynthesis sets a bound on the time variation of the ratio of the QCD confinement scale to light quark masses. We discuss the relation between this ratio, which is exponentially sensitive to high-energy couplings, and fundamental parameters, in various classes of unified theory. The binding energy of the deuteron is also expected to have an import…
