Under abundance of lithium may solve existence DM

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the potential resolution of the lithium problem in cosmology through the existence of superweakly-interacting massive particles (superWIMPs). These particles, which include weak-scale gravitinos and Kaluza-Klein gravitons, may account for the observed underabundance of lithium-7 without conflicting with the baryonic density measurements from the WMAP satellite. The implications for Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are significant, suggesting that superWIMPs could be detected via cosmological signatures. The analysis also emphasizes the need for updated thermonuclear reaction rates to reconcile discrepancies in primordial lithium abundances.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN)
  • Familiarity with cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations
  • Knowledge of superweakly-interacting massive particles (superWIMPs)
  • Basic principles of baryonic density and WMAP data interpretation
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate the implications of superWIMPs on dark matter detection strategies
  • Research updated thermonuclear reaction rates and their impact on BBN calculations
  • Explore the role of 7Be reactions in resolving the lithium problem
  • Examine future probes of CMB black body distortions for potential discoveries
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Astronomers, cosmologists, and particle physicists interested in dark matter research, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, and the implications of cosmic microwave background observations.

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http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/hep-ph/pdf/0306/0306024.pdf

Cold dark matter may be made of superweakly-interacting massive particles, superWIMPs, that naturally inherit the desired relic density from late decays of metastable WIMPs. Well-motivated examples are weak-scale gravitinos in supergravity and Kaluza-Klein gravitons from extra dimensions. These particles are impossible to detect in all dark matter experiments. We find, however, that superWIMP dark matter may be discovered through cosmological signatures from the early universe. In particular, superWIMP dark matter has observable consequences for Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and may explain the observed underabundance of 7Li without upsetting the concordance between deuterium and CMB baryometers. We discuss implications for future probes of CMB black body distortions and collider searches for new particles. In the course of this study, we also present a model-independent analysis of entropy production from late-decaying particles in light of WMAP data.
 
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astro-ph/0401008
Title: Updated Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis compared to WMAP results
Authors: Alain Coc, Elisabeth Vangioni-Flam, Pierre Descouvemont, Abderrahim Adahchour, Carmen Angulo



From the observations of the anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, the WMAP satellite has provided a determination of the baryonic density of the Universe, \Omega_b.h^2, with an unprecedented precision. This imposes a careful reanalysis of the standard Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis (SBBN) calculations. We have updated our previous calculations using thermonuclear reaction rates provided by a new analysis of experimental nuclear data constrained by $R$-matrix theory. Combining these BBN results with the \Omega_b.h^2 value from WMAP, we deduce the light element (4He, D, 3He and 7Li) primordial abundances and compare them with spectroscopic observations. There is a very good agreement with deuterium observed in cosmological clouds, which strengthens the confidence on the estimated baryonic density of the Universe. However, there is an important discrepancy between the deduced 7Li abundance and the one observed in halo stars of our Galaxy, supposed, until now, to represent the primordial abundance of this isotope. The origin of this discrepancy, observational, nuclear or more fundamental remains to be clarified. The possible role of the up to now neglected 7Be(d,p)2\alpha and 7Be(d,\alpha)5Li reactions is considered.
 
these papers show the abundance of "lithium problem", that
may help in the detection of DARK MATTER.
 

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