Dynamical screening effects on big bang nucleosynthesis

Abstract

A moving ion in plasma creates a deformed electric potential depending on the ion velocity, which leads to the distinct screening effect compared to the standard static Salpeter formula. In this paper, adopting the test charge method, we explore the dynamical screening effects on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). We find that the high temperature in the early universe causes the ion velocity to be faster than the solar condition so that the electric potential is effectively polarized. However, the low density of background plasma components significantly suppresses the dynamical screening effects on thermonuclear reaction rates during the BBN epoch. We compare our results with several thermonuclear reaction rates for solar fusion considering the dynamical screening effects. Also, we discuss the additional plasma properties in other astrophysical sites for the possible expansion from the present calculation in the future. ? 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab