Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2004-05-28
Astrophys.J.617:29,2004; Astrophys.J.617:29-49,2004
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
51 pages, 7 ps figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/425170
Currently there are two significantly different observational determinations of the primordial helium abundance, and, if only statistical errors in He4 abundance determinations are considered, the discrepancies between the observational determinations and the value favored by the WMAP results are significant. Here we examine in detail some likely sources of systematic uncertainties which may resolve the differences between the two determinations. We conclude that the observational determination of the primordial helium abundance is completely limited by systematic errors and that these systematic errors have not been fully accounted for in any published observational determination of the primordial helium abundance. In principle, the observed metal-poor HII region spectra should be analyzed in a non-parametric way, such that the HII region physical conditions and the helium abundance are derived solely from the relative flux ratios of the helium and hydrogen emission lines. In practice, there are very few HII region spectra with the quality that allow this, so that most analyses depend on assumed ranges or relationships between physical parameters, resulting in parametric solutions with underestimated error bars. A representative result of our analysis yields Y_p = 0.249 \pm 0.009. However, given that most of the spectra analyzed to date do not significantly constrain the primordial helium abundance, we argue in favor a range of allowed values of 0.232 le Y_p le 0.258. [abstract abridged]
Olive Keith A.
Skillman Evan D.
No associations
LandOfFree
A Realistic Determination of the Error on the Primordial Helium Abundance: Steps Toward Non-Parametric Nebular Helium Abundances 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 A Realistic Determination of the Error on the Primordial Helium Abundance: Steps Toward Non-Parametric Nebular Helium Abundances, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Realistic Determination of the Error on the Primordial Helium Abundance: Steps Toward Non-Parametric Nebular Helium Abundances will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-136442