New limits on the variability of G from big bang nucleosynthesis

Frank S. Accetta, Lawrence M. Krauss, Paul Romanelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

We revise limits on the value of G during primordial nucleosynthesis by incorporating new measurements of the neutron half-life along with the most recent reaction rate uncertainties. In doing this we follow D, 3He, and 7Li as G varies to determine how this variation affects limits on the baryon-to-photon ratio (μ). We then incorporate these new limits into the 4He predictions to limit G as a function of the number of relativistic species at the time of nucleosynthesis. If the number of such species (≥2) is not greater than the upper limit on the number of light neutrinos measured at CERN and the primordial abundance of 4He was between (22-25)%, then 1.4>Gnucl Gtoday>0.7. If G(t) ≈ t, this would translate into a limit 0.008>α>-0.009, or an approximate limit ( G G)today<±9×10-13yr-1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)146-150
Number of pages5
JournalPhysics Letters B
Volume248
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 27 1990
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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