Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

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Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

• Once significant amount of Deuterium has formed
  the heavier elements form very fast
• All post-Deuterium reactions involve strong
  nuclear forces, large cross sections and high
  reaction rates
• Reactions proceed quickly to Helium

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Most of 3H, 3He gets locked up in 4He - how about
heavier elements ?
- Maximum binding energy at iron ? elements
lighter than Iron release energy when fused.
- No stable nuclei with atomic number 5 or 8
- Helium has unusually large binding energy
production of nuclei ceases with Helium
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Neutrinos and BBN