7Be charge exchange between 7Be3+ ion and exotic long-lived negatively charged massive particle in big bang nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This paper investigates a new charge exchange reaction involving 7Be3+ ions and exotic negatively charged particles during big bang nucleosynthesis, which could significantly influence primordial 7Li abundance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 7Be charge exchange pathway with X- particles, potentially more impactful than radiative recombination in primordial element formation.

Findings

Charge exchange can dominate 7BeX formation rate.

The reaction pathway may significantly reduce 7Li abundance.

Further quantum calculations are needed for precise estimates.

Abstract

The existence of an exotic long-lived negatively charged massive particle, i.e., X-, during big bang nucleosynthesis can affect primordial light element abundances. Especially, the final abundance of 7Li, mainly originating from the electron capture of 7Be, has been suggested to reduce by the 7Be destruction via the radiative X- capture of 7Be followed by the radiative proton capture of the bound state of 7Be and X- (7BeX). We suggest a new route of 7BeX formation, that is the 7Be charge exchange at the reaction of 7Be3+ ion and X-. The formation rate depends on the number fraction of 7Be3+ ion, the charge exchange cross section of 7Be3+, and the probability that produced excited states 7BeX* are converted to the ground state. We estimate respective quantities affecting the 7BeX formation rate, and find that this reaction pathway can be more important than ordinary radiative recombination of 7Be and X-. The effect of the charge exchange reaction is then shown in a latest nuclear reaction network calculation. Quantum physical model calculations for related reactions are needed to precisely estimate the efficiency of this pathway in future.