New effects of a long-lived negatively charged massive particle on big bang nucleosynthesis

Motohiko Kusakabe, K. S. Kim, Myung Ki Cheoun, Toshitaka Kajino, Yasushi Kino, Grant J. Mathews

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Primordial 7Li abundance inferred from observations of metal-poor stars is a factor of about 3 lower than the theoretical value of standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model. One of the solutions to the Li problem is 7Be destruction during the BBN epoch caused by a long-lived negatively charged massive particle, X-. The particle can bind to nuclei, and X-bound nuclei (X-nuclei) can experience new reactions. The radiative X- capture by 7Be nuclei followed by proton capture of the bound state of 7Be and X- (7Bex) is a possible 7Be destruction reaction. Since the primordial abundance of 7Li originates mainly from 7Li produced via the electron capture of 7Be after BBN, the 7Be destruction provides a solution to the 7Li problem. We suggest a new route of 7Bex formation, that is the 7Be charge exchange at the reaction of 7Be3+ ion and X-. The formation rate depends on the ionization fraction of 7Be3+ ion, the charge exchange cross section of 7Be3+, and the probability that excited states 7Bex* produced at the charge exchange are converted to the ground state. We find that this reaction can be equally important as or more important than ordinary radiative recombination of 7Be and X-. The effect of this new route is shown in a nuclear reaction network calculation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOrigin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies 2013 - Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Origin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies, OMEG 2013
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
Pages29-34
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9780735412286
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event12th International Symposium on Origin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies, OMEG 2013 - Tsukuba, Japan
Duration: 2013 Nov 182013 Nov 21

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1594
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

Other12th International Symposium on Origin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies, OMEG 2013
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityTsukuba
Period13/11/1813/11/21

Keywords

  • Big Bang nucleosynthesis
  • early universe
  • observational cosmology
  • particle theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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