Under abundance of lithium may solve existence DM

In summary, the authors say that the discrepancies between the observed and predicted 7Li abundances can be explained by differences in the BBN calculations, and that the abundance of 7Li in our Galaxy is likely not the primordial value. They suggest that further research into the 7Be(d,p)2\alpha and 7Be(d,\alpha)5Li reactions may help to resolve the lithium problem.
  • #1
wolram
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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.
 
  • #3
these papers show the abundance of "lithium problem", that
may help in the detection of DARK MATTER.
 

1. What is the connection between lithium and dark matter?

There is ongoing research and debate about the role of lithium in potentially solving the mystery of dark matter. Some scientists believe that a lack of lithium in the early universe could explain the existence of dark matter, as it could have been converted into dark matter particles.

2. How does an under abundance of lithium solve the existence of dark matter?

The theory is that if there was a smaller amount of lithium in the early universe, it could have been converted into dark matter particles through a process called Bose-Einstein condensation. This would result in a significant amount of dark matter that could explain the observed gravitational effects in the universe.

3. What evidence supports the idea of an under abundance of lithium?

There is currently no direct evidence for an under abundance of lithium, but there are some observations that suggest it may be possible. For example, there is a discrepancy between the predicted and observed amount of lithium in the universe, which could be explained by its conversion into dark matter.

4. Are there any other theories for the existence of dark matter?

Yes, there are several other theories being explored by scientists to explain the existence of dark matter. These include the WIMP (weakly interacting massive particles) theory, the sterile neutrino theory, and the modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) theory.

5. How could an under abundance of lithium be tested?

There are currently no definitive ways to test the under abundance of lithium theory, as it is still a relatively new idea. However, future experiments and observations, such as from the European Space Agency's Euclid mission, may provide more evidence to support or refute this theory.

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