CERN n_TOF experiment: 'Age of the Universe'

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
4 replies · 2K views
infinitebubble
Messages
82
Reaction score
40
Exciting to see CERN coming back to experiments. Of interest is the n_TOF instruments to study the estimated age of the universe through neutron-induced reactions of the 'Rhenium-Osmium'cosmo-chronometer. Anyone have a more detail explanation of how this device works? The rhenium-osmium isotopic system provides one of the newest methods for radiometric dating in cosmo- and geochronology. See: http://www.geochronometria.pl/pdf/geo_27/Geo27_05.pdf

See Cern for more information on this experiment. http://home.cern/about/updates/2017/04/accelerators-awaken
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Where exactly do you see a connection?

Rhenium-osmium is used to measure the age of things that formed significantly after the big bang. Direct measurements of the age of the universe are more precise.
 
Elemental indicators can only constrain the minimum age of the universe. It is widely believed that even elemental hydrogen and helium were not necessarily plentiful in the very early universe.