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Brian D. Fields

Publications and source records attributed to Brian D. Fields.

110 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Production of Li, Be \& B from Baryon Inhomogeneous Primordial Nucleosynthesis

We investigate the possibility that inhomogeneous nucleosynthesis may eventually be used to explain the abundances of \li6, \be9 and B in population II stars. The present work differs from previous studies in that we have used a more extensive reaction network. It is demonstrated that in the simplest scenario the abundances of the light elements with $A\le7$ constrain the separation of inhomogeneities to sufficiently small scales that the model is indistinguishable from homogeneous nucleosynthesis and that the abundances of \li6, \be9\ and B are then below observations by several orders of magnitude. This conclusion does not depend on the \li7 constraint. We also examine alternative scenarios which involve a post-nucleosynthesis reprocessing of the light elements to reproduce the observed abundances of Li and B, while allowing for a somewhat higher baryon density (still well below the cosmological critical density). Future B/H measurements may be able to exclude even this exotic scenario and further restrict primordial nucleosynthesis to approach the homogeneous model conclusions.

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Primordial Nucleosynthesis and the Abundances of Beryllium and Boron

The ability to now make measurements of Be and B as well as put constraints on \lisix\ abundances in metal-poor stars has led to a detailed reexamination of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis in the $A\groughly6$ regime. The nuclear reaction network has been significantly expanded with many new rates added. It is demonstrated that although a number of $A>7$ reaction rates are poorly determined, even with extreme values chosen, the standard homogeneous model is unable to produce significant yields (Be/H and B/H $<10^{-17}$ when $A\le7$ abundances fit) above $A=7$ and the \liseven/\lisix\ ratio always exceeds 500. We also preliminarily explore inhomogeneous models, such as those inspired by a first order quark-hadron phase transition, where regions with high neutron/proton ratios can allow some leakage up to $A>7$. However models that fit the $A\le7$ abundances still seem to have difficulty in obtaining significant $A>7$ yields.

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