Judd Luis Amaguin

ABM-3

Big Bang Theory

Light Elements
The lightest elements (hydrogen, helium, deuterium, lithium) were produced in the
Big Bang nucleosynthesis. According to the Big Bang theory, the temperatures in the early
universe were so high that fusion reactions could take place. This resulted in the formation
of light elements: hydrogen, deuterium, helium (two isotopes), lithium and trace amounts of
beryllium. However, the Big Bang model can be tested further. Given a precise
measurement of the abundance of ordinary matter, the predicted abundances of the other
light elements becomes highly constrained. The WMAP satellite is able to directly measure
the ordinary matter density and finds a value of 4.6% (±0.2%). This leads to predicted
abundances which are in good agreement with observed abundances. This is an important
and detailed test of nucleosynthesis and is further evidence in support of the Big Bang
theory. Had the results been in conflict, it would point to 1) errors in the data, 2) an
incomplete understanding of the process of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, 3) a
misunderstanding of the mechanisms that produce fluctuations in the microwave
background radiation, or 4) a more fundamental problem with the Big Bang theory.

Heavier Elements
Elements higher than iron cannot be formed through fusion as one has to supply
energy for the reaction to take place. However, we do see elements higher than iron around
us. So how did these elements form? The answer is supernovae. In a supernova explosion,
neutron capture reactions take place (this is not fusion), leading to the formation of heavy
elements. This is the reason why it is said that most of the stuff that we see around us come
from stars and supernovae (the heavy elements part). If you go into technical details, then
there are two processes of neutron capture called rapid process (r-process) and the slow
process (s-process), and these lead to formation of different elements.

The Fusion Reaction

Fusion reactions constitute the fundamental energy source of stars, including the
Sun. The evolution of stars can be viewed as a passage through various stages as
thermonuclear reactions and nucleosynthesis cause compositional changes over long time
spans. Hydrogen (H) “burning” initiates the fusion energy source of stars and leads to the
formation of helium (He). Generation of fusion energy for practical use also relies on fusion
reactions between the lightest elements that burn to form helium. In fact, the heavy
isotopes of hydrogen—deuterium (D) and tritium (T)—react more efficiently with each
other, and, when they do undergo fusion, they yield more energy per reaction than do two
hydrogen nuclei. (The hydrogen nucleus consists of a single proton. The deuterium nucleus
has one proton and one neutron, while tritium has one proton and two neutrons.)