Discuss neutron freeze out a d deuterium bottle-neck

condition in the early Universe. Show that primordial

abundance of H and He by mass in the early Universe is 75%
and 25%.
As the energy of the Universe approaches to a few MeV,
proton – neutron conversion reaction is possible.
We know that, mn = 939.6 MeV & mp = 938.3 MeV
Therefore the difference in the energy,

This much energy is equivalent to 1010 K temperature

[remember this temperature is much more than that of
thermonuclear fusion reaction]
When the energy of the Universe was > 1.293 MeV, these
reaction are possible:

The only other neutron-proton reaction occur at > 0.80 MeV

The only other neutron-proton reaction occur at > 0.80 MeV
2

According to Boltzmann, number density of neutron and

proton can be written as,

This means that – when the temperature of the Universe goes

down to 0.80 MeV, the number ratio of proton to neutron
(Np/Nn) is 5. So, at 0.80 MeV, number of proton is 5 times
more than that of the number of neutron.
We know that these remaining neutrons decays to proton
spontaneously, through neutron decay reaction,
We know that these remaining neutrons decays to proton
spontaneously, through neutron decay reaction,
4

This reaction will take place till the production of deuteron

(proton-neutron fusion reaction):
5

Binding Energy 2.2 MeV

When the temperature of the Universe goes down 0.1 MeV,
the reaction (5), the deuteron production will be stop. The
time taken to arrive at 0.1 MeV (from 0.8 MeV) is about 200
seconds! Therefore the neutron decay reaction,

will occur till 200 seconds after the big bang.

 6

Therefore, as the temperature goes down from 0.8 MeV to

0.1 MeV, the number of neutron decreases from 1/5 to 1/7 of
proton number! This process is called neutron freeze-out. So,
neutron can not decay further. It has only one option:
combine proton to form deuteron!
After the freeze-out, deuteron production through equation
(5) begins.

The cross-section of this reaction is extremely large, very fast

reaction takes place. Due to this, all available neutron locked-
up in the deuteron (ultimately He-nuclei).
There will be NO neutron left after reaction (5)! This situation
is a ed as deuteron bottleneck .

1:1 n n p p 1:5 p p n
n n p p
p n p p p
p p p
p n p n p p pn
p p
n p n n n p p p p
p p n
n p n
n p p p p p p 1 sec

T > 1.293 MeV T = 0.8 MeV

p p p p 1:7 p n p
p
n p p
p n p p
pp p p p n
p p p p
p p p
p p p
n p p
p p p
p p p n p p p 200 sec
Deuteron bottle-neck T = 0.1 MeV
n/p

0.8 MeV 0.1 MeV

1 sec 200 secs
The mass fraction of Hydrogen in the Universe (after 200
secs) can be calculated as,

1/7

Similarly, mass fraction of He in the Universe is,

All neutrons end up

in He-4 (since it is
very stable having
BE = 28 MeV!
 Milky Way Galaxy

Describe structure and observational facts of Milky Way

Galaxy. Discuss its kinematics and formation process.
Dark Matter Halo
Pop II star No star!
Dense gas!

8 kpc Globular
Stellar Halo Cluster

ISM bulge ISM

Sun

Stellar Halo
Pop III star
Pop II star

30 kpc
Dark Matter Halo
Sun orbits around Galactic center with 220 km/s L = 1067 JS
1 orbit takes approx. 240 million years

228 pop II star

8 kpc

ISM BH? 1011 pop I star

ISM

Sun
Population I: Young,
metal rich; located in
spiral arms and disk
M (visible) = 5.8 x 1011 Msun 5%
Population II: Old,
M (total) = 120 x 1011 Msun 95% dark matter metal poor; located
in the halo and
Stars closer to the galactic center orbit faster. nuclear bulge
 It has differential rotation
(because angular momentum is
different in different positions),

Reference Difference in Latitude

angular the angular
momentum momentum

Differential rotation generates

density waves!

When these waves compress the

giant molecular cloud, star
formation rate increases. As the
star formation rate increases,
spiral arms get fragmented!