Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics

Details Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics

2010-01-28

arxiv.org/abs/1001.5088v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

27 pages, 11 figures, matches published version in JCAP

Scientific paper

We present calculations showing that upcoming Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments will have the power to improve on current constraints on neutrino masses and provide new limits on neutrino degeneracy parameters. The latter could surpass those derived from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the observationally-inferred primordial helium abundance. These conclusions derive from our Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) simulations which incorporate a full BBN nuclear reaction network. This provides a self-consistent treatment of the helium abundance, the baryon number, the three individual neutrino degeneracy parameters and other cosmological parameters. Our analysis focuses on the effects of gravitational lensing on CMB constraints on neutrino rest mass and degeneracy parameter. We find for the PLANCK experiment that total (summed) neutrino mass $M_{\nu} > 0.29$ eV could be ruled out at $2\sigma$ or better. Likewise neutrino degeneracy parameters $\xi_{\nu_{e}} > 0.11$ and $| \xi_{\nu_{\mu/\tau}} | > 0.49$ could be detected or ruled out at $2\sigma$ confidence, or better. For POLARBEAR we find that the corresponding detectable values are $M_\nu > 0.75 {\rm eV}$, $\xi_{\nu_{e}} > 0.62$, and $| \xi_{\nu_{\mu/\tau}}| > 1.1$, while for EPIC we obtain $M_\nu > 0.20 {\rm eV}$, $\xi_{\nu_{e}} > 0.045$, and $|\xi_{\nu_{\mu/\tau}}| > 0.29$. Our forcast for EPIC demonstrates that CMB observations have the potential to set constraints on neutrino degeneracy parameters which are better than BBN-derived limits and an order of magnitude better than current WMAP-derived limits.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics 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 Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Using Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Extend CMB Probes of Neutrino Physics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-254021