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The Baryon Density through the (Cosmological) Ages
Author(s) -
Steigman Gary
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3978(200205)50:5/7<562::aid-prop562>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - physics , big bang nucleosynthesis , baryon , cosmology , big bang (financial markets) , universe , nucleosynthesis , big bounce , astrophysics , ultimate fate of the universe , abundance of the chemical elements , astronomy , abundance (ecology) , particle physics , physical cosmology , dark energy , ecology , stars , finance , economics , biology
The light element abundances probe the baryon density of the universe within a few minutes of the Big Bang. Of these relics from the earliest universe, deuterium is the baryometer of choice. By comparing its primordial abundance inferred from observations with that predicted by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), the early universe baryon density is derived. This is then compared to independent estimates of the baryon density several hundred thousand years after the Big Bang and at present, more than 10 billion years later. The excellent agreement among these values represents an impressive confirmation of the standard model of cosmology.