Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

Coc, Alain

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-7

Alain Coc⁸

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Synonyms

Abbreviation: BBN; Primordial nucleosynthesis

Definition

The nucleosynthetic process that took place within the first 20 min after the big bang is called big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) or primordial nucleosynthesis. At this early epoch, the Universe was dense and hot enough to allow for nuclear reactions to take place, producing the “light elements,” ⁴He, ²H (≡D, i.e., deuterium), ³He, and ⁷Li, starting from neutrons and protons. The comparison between the primordial abundances of these isotopes deduced on one hand from observations and on the other hand from model calculations is one of the main support of the big bang model.

History

Prominent landmarks in the development of the big bang nucleosynthesis theory include works by Gamow in the 1940s (out of equilibrium nucleosynthesis in an expanding Universe dominated by radiation), Peebles in 1966 (big bang nucleosynthesis calculations up to ⁴He), and Wagoner in 1973 (big bang nucleosynthesis calculations including ⁷Li).

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References and Further Reading

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Authors and Affiliations

IJCLab (Laboratoire Irène Joliot-Curie), Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
Alain Coc

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Alain Coc
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Correspondence to Alain Coc .

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Editors and Affiliations

Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France
Muriel Gargaud
Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
William M. Irvine
Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Ricardo Amils
Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, USA
Henderson James Cleaves
Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Daniele Pinti
Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
José Cernicharo Quintanilla
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France
Michel Viso

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Coc, A. (2021). Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-7

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-7
Received: 08 February 2021
Accepted: 28 April 2021
Published: 12 June 2021
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4
eBook Packages: Living Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

Published:

08 December 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-8
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

Published:

12 June 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-7
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

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06 February 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-6
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Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

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28 April 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_160-5