Nucleosynthesis constraint on Lorentz invariance violation in the neutrino sector

TL;DR

This paper explores how violations of Lorentz invariance in neutrinos could affect early universe nucleosynthesis, providing tighter constraints based on primordial element abundances than previous cosmic microwave background data.

Contribution

It derives weak reaction rates in a Lorentz-violating neutrino model and tightens constraints on Lorentz violation using primordial element measurements.

Findings

Stronger bounds on Lorentz violation parameter from nucleosynthesis data

Altered neutrino energy density impacts light element formation

Constraints surpass those from cosmic microwave background measurements

Abstract

We investigate the nucleosynthesis constraint on Lorentz invariance violation in the neutrino sector which influences the formation of light elements by altering the energy density of the Universe and weak reaction rates prior to and during the big-bang nucleosynthesis epoch. We derive the weak reaction rates in the Lorentz-violating extension of the standard model. Using measurements of the primordial helium-4 and deuterium abundances, we give a tighter constraint on the deformed parameter than that derived from measurements of the cosmic microwave background anisotropies.