Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1999-02-10
Phys.Rev. D60 (1999) 045005
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
21 pages, eps figures embedded using epsfig macro
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevD.60.045005
We put bounds on the variation of the value of the fine structure constant $\alpha$, at the time of Big Bang nucleosynthesis. We study carefully all light elements up to $^7$Li. We correct a previous upper limit on $|\Delta \alpha / \alpha|$ estimated from $^4$He primordial abundance and we find interesting new potential limits (depending on the value of the baryon-to-photon ratio) from $^7$Li, whose production is governed to a large extent by Coulomb barriers. The presently unclear observational situation concerning the primordial abundances preclude a better limit than $|\Delta \alpha/\alpha| \lsim 2\cdot 10^{-2}$, two orders of magnitude less restrictive than previous bounds. In fact, each of the (mutually exclusive) scenarios of standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis proposed, one based on a high value of the measured deuterium primordial abundance and one based on a low value, may describe some aspects of data better if a change in $\alpha$ of this magnitude is assumed.
Bergstrom Lars
Iguri Sergio
Rubinstein Hector
No associations
LandOfFree
Constraints on the Variation of the Fine Structure Constant from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Constraints on the Variation of the Fine Structure Constant from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Constraints on the Variation of the Fine Structure Constant from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-461177