A resolution of the cosmic Lithium problem

TL;DR

This paper proposes that quark-novae occurring after Population III stars can explain the observed lithium abundance in Population II stars, resolving the longstanding discrepancy with Big Bang nucleosynthesis predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel astrophysical process involving quark-novae to account for the cosmic lithium problem, aligning theoretical models with observations.

Findings

Reproduces the lithium plateau at A(Li) ~ 2.2 in Population II stars

Explains the increased scatter and drop in lithium at very low metallicity

Provides predictions consistent with observed lithium abundances

Abstract

In 1982, Monique and Francois Spite discovered that the 7Li abundance in the atmosphere of old metal-poor dwarf stars in the galactic halo was independent of metallicity and temperature. Since then, 7Li abundance in the Universe has become a subject of intrigue, because there is less of it in Population II dwarf stars (by a factor of 3) than standard big bang nucleosynthesis predicts. Here we show how quark-novae (QNe) occurring in the wake of Pop. III stars, can elegantly produce an A(Li) ~ 2.2 Lithium plateau in Pop. II (low-mass) stars formed in the pristine cloud swept up by the mixed SN+QN ejecta. We also find an increase in the scatter as well as an eventual drop in A(Li) below the Spite plateau values for very low metallicity ([Fe/H] < -3) in excellent agreement with observations. We propose a solution to the discrepancy between the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis 7Li abundance and the Spite plateau and list some implications and predictions of our model.