Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes: An Overview

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes
An Overview
Rohin Kumar Y
August 7, 2012
Rohin Kumar Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
Helium Production in Stars
2
Thermal History of the Universe
Time Scale vs. Temperature
Thermal History of Early Universe
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Neutron-proton abundance ratio
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
Simulation Parameters
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis is the process of formation of nucleus.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is one of the successes of the
standard model of Cosmology.
The original work done by Gamow & Ralph Alpher
predicted the right amount of nuclide abundances.
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Nucleosynthesis
For any nuclear reaction to take place a particle of charge
has to penetrate the electrostatic repulsion. For example, if
nuclei of charge Z
1
and Z
2
have to come closer to a
distance r we need to overcome the coloumb barrier.
V =
Z
1
Z
2
e
2
r
=
1.44Z
1
Z
2
r (fm)
MeV
The average thermal energy of particles in the
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is kT = 8.62 10
8
T keV
We need the temperatures of the order of 10
6
or higher to
cross this barrier for the nuclear reaction to take place.
Gamow later this idea was extended to develop the theory
for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.
Nucleosynthesis
nuclei of charge Z
1
and Z
2
V =
Z
1
Z
2
e
2
r
=
1.44Z
1
Z
2
r (fm)
MeV
8
T keV
6
or higher to
Nucleosynthesis
nuclei of charge Z
1
and Z
2
V =
Z
1
Z
2
e
2
r
=
1.44Z
1
Z
2
r (fm)
MeV
8
T keV
6
or higher to
Nucleosynthesis
nuclei of charge Z
1
and Z
2
V =
Z
1
Z
2
e
2
r
=
1.44Z
1
Z
2
r (fm)
MeV
8
T keV
6
or higher to
Nucleosynthesis
nuclei of charge Z
1
and Z
2
V =
Z
1
Z
2
e
2
r
=
1.44Z
1
Z
2
r (fm)
MeV
8
T keV
6
or higher to
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Stellar vs. Primordial
There is a remarkable difference between the nucleosynthesis
process that takes place in stars and the one that happens in
the early universe right after the big bang.
Primordial Stellar
Time Scale mins B.y
Type Adiabatic cooling Isothermic
Density 10
5
100g/cm
3
Baryon-to-Photon ratio () 10
10
1
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
It is experimentally observed that the universe is mostly
dominated by two elements namely Hydrogen( 75%) and
Helium( 25%).
This implies there is one neutron for every 7 protons (i.e.
n
p

1
7
).
We can roughly calculate the order of He produced in stars
(for e.g sun) and it accounts for only 5%
4
He is primordial!!!
Helium( 25%).
n
p

1
7
).
4
He is primordial!!!
Helium( 25%).
n
p

1
7
).
4
He is primordial!!!
Helium( 25%).
n
p

1
7
).
4
He is primordial!!!
Basic Idea!
To form Deuterium n + p D +
Neutron Half-life (
1/2
(n)) 10min
Neutron capture in BBN should happen within 10 minutes
So nuclei from the hot big bang must have freezed out!
Basic Idea!
Neutron Half-life (
1/2
(n)) 10min
Basic Idea!
Neutron Half-life (
1/2
(n)) 10min
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Temperature vs. Time Scale
We know from standard big bang model that
a
4
=
4
a
a
= 4
_
8G
3
_
1/2
t =
_
3
32G
_
1/2
t =
_
c
2
48GaT
4
_
1/2
t = 1.09secs.
_
T
10
10
K
_
2
Temperature vs. Time Scale contd...
Temperature Time
10
11
K 0.01secs
10
10
K 1.07secs
10
9
K 3 mins
10
8
K 5.3 hrs
4 10
3
K 10
5
yrs
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Background
Assume that the early universe is hot & consider particles
in thermal equilibrium at that temperature.
particles outnumbered anti-particles causing
matter-anti-matter asymmetry at the beginning
Hence, only the particle distributions are taken into
account in calculating nuclear reactions.
Background
Background
T > 10
12
K: The soup consists of ,leptons,mesons,n,p,
n,
p
this era is difcult to study because of the strong
interactions of the quark gluon plasma. It should be noted
that the ination time scale is of the order of 10
33
s and is
before the process of baryogenesis.
T 10
12
K: constitution is ,
+
,
,e
,, s and small
contamination of n, p & N
n
N
p
T < 10
12
K:
+
,
annihilation happens. All s dissipate

at T 10
11
K; , s decouple from leptons.
T > 10
12
n,
p
33
s and is
T 10
12
+
,
,e
,, s and small
n
N
p
T < 10
12
K:
+
,

at T 10
11
T > 10
12
n,
p
33
s and is
T 10
12
+
,
,e
,, s and small
n
N
p
T < 10
12
K:
+
,

at T 10
11
Below 10
11
K mass difference of n, p more protons than
neutrons. 5 10
9
K (t 4 sec) e
+
,e
annihilate and heat

up photons.
n
p

1
5
.
At around 10
9
K ns & ps combine together to give
nucleii.
At 4000K electrons captured by nucleii. The photons
there after freely stream and are observed in the
microwave frequencies, forming the isotropic Cosmic
Microwave Background.
Below 10
11
neutrons. 5 10
9
K (t 4 sec) e
+
,e
annihilate and heat

up photons.
n
p

1
5
.
At around 10
9
nucleii.
Below 10
11
neutrons. 5 10
9
K (t 4 sec) e
+
,e
annihilate and heat

up photons.
n
p

1
5
.
At around 10
9
nucleii.
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Basics of interactions
Consider the equilibrium condition at high temperatures. If at
some temperature there are particles in thermal equilibrium.
no. density of i
th
species of particles with momentum between
q & q + dq is
number density
n
i
(q) =
g
i
q
2
dq
h
3
4
_
_
1
exp
_
E
i
(q)
i
kT
_
1
_
_
+ sign for fermions & for bosons. E
i
(q) = (m
2
i
+ q
2
)
1/2
i
=
chemical potential, it is additive & is conserved in all reactions
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Nucleons weakly interact by the following reactions:
n +
e
p + e
n + e
+
p +
e
n p + e
+
e
n + p + e

For T > 10
10
K
(p n)
(n p)
= exp
_
Q
kT
_
with Q = m
n
m
p
For equilibrium, the principles of detailed balance implies
(n p) neutron density = (p n) proton density
n
n
n
p
=
(p n)
(n p)
= exp
_
Q
KT
_
X
n
=
n
n
n
n
+ n
p
=
_
1 + e
Q/kT
_
1
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Nucleii Abundances-Theory
n
i
=
_
n
i
(q)dq =
4g
i
h
3
_
q
2
dq
exp
_
E
i
(q)
i
kT
_
1
For every non-relativistic nuclei, (very good approximation), the
1 is ignorable
E
i
(q) m
i
+
q
2
2m
i
n
i
=
4g
i
h
3
exp
_
i
m
i
kT
__

0
q
2
dqexp
_
q
2
2m
i
kT
_
= g
i
_
2m
i
kT
h
2
_
3/2
exp
_
i
m
i
kT
_
Theory
Let there be a nucleus i of Z
i
ps & (A
i
Z
i
) ns in equilibrium
i
= Z
i
p
+ (A
i
Z
i
)
n
X
i
=
n
i
A
i
n
N
; X
n
=
n
n
n
N
; X
p
=
n
p
n
N
Where n
N
= total no. density of nucleons (bound or free)
n
N
= n
N
0
_
a
0
a
_
3
=

N
0
m
N
_
a
0
a
_
3
The expressions for n
p
, n
n
, n
i
are
n
p
= 2
_
2m
p
kT
h
2
_
3/2
exp
_
p
m
p
kT
_
n
n
= 2
_
2m
n
kT
h
2
_
3/2
exp
_
n
m
n
kT
_
n
i
= g
A
_
2m
A
kT
h
2
_
3/2
exp
_
i
m
i
kT
_
From
exp (
i
/kT) = exp [(Z
i
m
p
+ (A
i
Z
i
)m
n
)/kT]
n
Z
p
n
AZ
n
_
2
m
N
kT
_
3A/2
2
A
exp [(Z
i
m
p
+ (A
i
Z
i
)m
n
)/kT]
but B
i
= Z
i
m
p
+ (A
i
Z
i
)m
n
m
A
n
A
i
= g
A
A
3/2
2
A
_
2
m
N
kT
_
3(A1)/2
n
Z
i
p
n
A
i
Z
n
exp(B
A
/T)
For closure density
c
=
3H
2
8G
for H = h 100km/sec/Mpc &
B
=
B
c
= 2.68 10
8
B
h
2
n
B
=

B
c
m
N
and n
=
2(3)
3
_
kT
c
_
3
X
i
=
n
A
i
n
N
= g
A
A
3/2
2
A
_
2
m
N
kT
_
3(A1)/2
X
Z
i
p
X
A
i
Z
i
n
(n
N
)
A
i
1
exp[B
A
/T]
Next use expression for n
to get
X
i
= g
i
fA
5/2
_
kT
m
n
_
3(A1)/2
A1
X
Z
p
X
AZ
n
e
B
i
/kT
f = (3)
A1
(1A)/2
2
(3A5)/2
where =
n
N
n

Network of Reactions
Big bang nucleosynthesis process consists of a chain of more
than 88 reactions considering 26 nucleides.
Figure: Network of Reactions simulated in NUC123
BBN Codes
All the reactions shown in the previous gure there are
these coupled differential equations to be solved.
The whole network of reactions is solved by two-step
Runge-Kutta method with evolving time/temperature
parameter.
The network has to be simulated in a computer numerically
to nd out the nuclei abundances.
The rst and the most popular of the nucleosynthesis
codes is the Kawano code(NUC123) written in Fortran 77
based on the paper by Wagoner.
It is extremely user-friendly with menu driven interface.
There are others based on the same algorithm such as
AlterBBN (written in C)
BBN Codes
parameter.
BBN Codes
parameter.
BBN Codes
parameter.
BBN Codes
parameter.
BBN Codes
parameter.
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
Reaction Rates
The total rate of change of abundance of nucleus i is given by
the following rst-order differential equation
1
A
i
dX
i
dt
=
j
X
j
A
j
k
(j )
j k
X
j
A
j
X
k
A
k
[jk]
j kl
X
j
A
j
X
k
A
k
X
l
A
l
[jkl ]
Here
k
is the reaction rate of the kth species. Similarly [jk] is
the rate of reaction between jth and kth species calculated from
the thermally averaged cross-section.
Both Resonant and Non-Resonant reaction rates are taken into
account.
Outline
1
Introduction
Nucleosynthesis
Why Primordial?
2
Interactions
3
Helium Synthesis
Nucleii Abundances
4
BBN Codes
Reaction Rates
5
Results
6
Conclusion
As NUC123 is menu-driven application, one can set the
parameters in the code by choosing relevent options in the
menu.
Computational Parameters
initial time step, time-step limiting constant, initial and nal
temperatures, non-zero initial abundances of the nucleii
abundance below which the nucleii can be ignored
Model Parameters
gravitational constant, neutron lifetime, no. of neutrino
species, nal Baryon-to- photon ratio, cosmological
constant and neutrino degeneracies
One can also vary the model parameters linearly and do
multiple runs.
menu.
Model Parameters
multiple runs.
menu.
Model Parameters
multiple runs.
Nuclide Abundances vs. Time
Figure: Nucleii Abundances vs. Time (Log)
Mass Fractions vs. Time
Figure: Helium, Hydrogen & Neutron mass fractions vs. Time (Log)
Thank You

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Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes

annihilation happens. All s dissipate

annihilation happens. All s dissipate

annihilation happens. All s dissipate

annihilate and heat

annihilate and heat

annihilate and heat

Rohin Kumar Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes

Rohin Kumar Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Codes

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