Precision Cosmology with the Lightest Elements

2025/11/09 by Pettini, Max, Cooke, Ryan
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO) #FOS: Physical sciences #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.06275

openalex publication_date 2025/11/09 · openalex created_date 2025/11/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

This is a transcript of the joint talk we gave at the Sixth Gruber Cosmology Conference at Yale University on 3 October 2025. We describe the key role played by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) in today's `Precision Cosmology', focusing in particular on the precise determination of the primordial abundance of deuterium. We describe the development of the ideas and methods of BBN research from their beginnings more than 75 years ago to the latest developments, and conclude with a forward look to likely advances expected towards the end of the current decade.

Citations

• The CosmoVerse White Paper: Addressing observational tensions in cosmology with systematics and fundamental physics
• The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR6 Power Spectra, Likelihoods and ΛCDM Parameters
• Solar System Elemental Abundances from the Solar Photosphere and CI-Chondrites
• LINX: A Fast, Differentiable, and Extensible Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Package
• Nucleosynthesis Without Computer
• Tracking The Baryon Density From The Big Bang To The Present

Related

• Primordial Alchemy: From The Big Bang To The Present Universe
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: Reprise
• Big Bang: a theory or fact
• Primordial Nucleosynthesis: The Predicted and Observed Abundances and Their Consequences
• Primordial Nucleosynthesis For The New Millennium