One percent determination of the primordial deuterium abundance
read the original abstract
We report a reanalysis of a near-pristine absorption system, located at a redshift z_abs=2.52564 toward the quasar Q1243+307, based on the combination of archival and new data obtained with the HIRES echelle spectrograph on the Keck telescope. This absorption system, which has an oxygen abundance [O/H]=-2.769+/-0.028 (~1/600 of the Solar abundance), is among the lowest metallicity systems currently known where a precise measurement of the deuterium abundance is afforded. Our detailed analysis of this system concludes, on the basis of eight D I absorption lines, that the deuterium abundance of this gas cloud is log_10(D/H) = -4.622+/-0.015, which is in very good agreement with the results previously reported by Kirkman et al. (2003), but with an improvement on the precision of this single measurement by a factor of ~3.5. Combining this new estimate with our previous sample of six high precision and homogeneously analyzed D/H measurements, we deduce that the primordial deuterium abundance is log_10(D/H)_P = -4.5974+/-0.0052 or, expressed as a linear quantity, (D/H)_P = (2.527+/-0.030)x10^-5; this value corresponds to a one percent determination of the primordial deuterium abundance. Combining our result with a BBN calculation that uses the latest nuclear physics input, we find that the baryon density derived from BBN agrees to within 2 sigma of the latest results from the Planck CMB data.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
Forward citations
Cited by 15 Pith papers
-
DESI DR2 Results II: Measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations and Cosmological Constraints
DESI DR2 BAO data exhibits 2.3 sigma tension with CMB in Lambda-CDM but prefers evolving dark energy (w0 > -1, wa < 0) at 3.1 sigma with CMB and 2.8-4.2 sigma when including supernovae.
-
DESI 2024 VI: Cosmological Constraints from the Measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations
First-year DESI BAO data are consistent with flat LambdaCDM and, when combined with CMB, show a 2.5-3.9 sigma preference for evolving dark energy (w0 > -1, wa < 0) that strengthens with certain supernova datasets.
-
A data-driven prediction for the primordial deuterium abundance
Gaussian process regression on nuclear data predicts 10^5 D/H = 2.442 ± 0.040, 1.70 sigma below observation and consistent with first-principles calculations.
-
Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Results: Cosmological Constraints from Galaxy Clustering and Weak Lensing
DES Y3 3x2pt analysis constrains S8=0.776±0.017 and Ωm=0.339±0.032 in flat ΛCDM, consistent with Planck CMB results at p=0.13-0.48.
-
UNIONS-3500 Weak Lensing: III. 2D Cosmological Constraints in Configuration Space
UNIONS-3500 weak lensing data yields S_8 = 0.831^{+0.067}_{-0.078} in flat LCDM from 2D cosmic shear, consistent with Planck within 1 sigma.
-
Einstein-Cartan pseudoscalaron inflation, reheating and nonthermal leptogenesis
Einstein-Cartan pseudoscalaron inflation coupled to type-I seesaw neutrinos makes nonthermal leptogenesis a necessary mechanism for the baryon asymmetry, yielding ns ~ 0.97, r ~ 0.004 and nB/s ~ 8.7e-11 for gamma ~ -1...
-
Constraints on the inflationary vacuum and reheating era from NANOGrav
NANOGrav data favors a blue-tilted tensor spectrum with nt ≈ 2.2, radiation-dominated reheating, and alpha-vacuum states over standard Bunch-Davies, with a frequency-dependent alpha suggested to resolve the blue-tilt tension.
-
Bipartite Solution to the Lithium Problem
A sequential majoron-to-neutrinos decay followed by axion-like particle-to-photons decay can lower primordial lithium without exceeding deuterium limits.
-
Illuminating the Dark Sector: Understanding Modified Gravity Signatures with Cross-Correlations of Gravitational Waves and Large-Scale Structure
Forecasts indicate that LSS-GW cross-correlations with Stage-IV surveys and Einstein Telescope tighten constraints on modified gravity parameters beyond those from LSS observations alone.
-
Nucleosynthesis and CMB bounds on photophilic ALPs: a fresh look
Updated model-independent BBN and CMB bounds on photophilic ALPs that incorporate rare decays to light hadrons, show extended constraints for multiple reheating temperatures, and flag parameter space that may alleviat...
-
CMB lensing from Planck PR4 maps
Planck PR4 maps with optimal filtering yield CMB lensing amplitude 1.004 ± 0.024 and σ8 Ωm^0.25 = 0.599 ± 0.016, the tightest lensing constraint yet.
-
The chemical make-up of the Sun: A 2020 vision
Revised solar photospheric abundances yield Z/X = 0.0187 with C, N, O at 8.46, 7.83, 8.69, preserving the solar modeling discrepancy and revealing a modest volatile-refractory offset from CI chondrites.
-
Planck 2018 results. VI. Cosmological parameters
Final Planck CMB data confirms the flat 6-parameter ΛCDM model with Ω_c h² = 0.120 ± 0.001, Ω_b h² = 0.0224 ± 0.0001, n_s = 0.965 ± 0.004, τ = 0.054 ± 0.007, H_0 = 67.4 ± 0.5 km/s/Mpc, and no strong evidence for extensions.
-
Testing Scale-Dependent Modified Gravity with DESI DR1
DESI DR1 constrains the modified gravity parameter to log10 |f_R0| < -4.59 at 95% CL, implying no detectable fifth force on scales below about 18 Mpc.
-
QCD-driven dark matter: AQNs formation and observational tests
Dark matter is composed of composite quark-antiquark objects stabilized by axion domain walls, offering a unified account of dark matter and baryon asymmetry.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.