Constraint on Heavy Element Production in Inhomogeneous Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis from The Light-Element Observations

TL;DR

This study examines how inhomogeneous big-bang nucleosynthesis could produce heavy elements beyond nickel, using light-element observations to constrain the conditions in the early universe.

Contribution

It provides observational constraints on inhomogeneous big-bang nucleosynthesis and identifies conditions allowing significant heavy element production beyond nickel.

Findings

Allowed regions for high-density volume fractions and ratios are identified.

Heavy elements beyond Ni can be produced appreciably in these regions.

Simultaneous production of p- and r-process elements is possible.

Abstract

We investigate the observational constraints on the inhomogeneous big-bang nucleosynthesis that Matsuura et al. suggested the possibility of the heavy element production beyond ${}^7$Li in the early universe. From the observational constraints on light elements of ${}^4$He and D, possible regions are found on the plane of the volume fraction of the high density region against the ratio between high-and low-density regions. In these allowed regions, we have confirmed that the heavy elements beyond Ni can be produced appreciably, where $p$- and/or $r$-process elements are produced well simultaneously.