Ab Initio Prediction of the He4(d,γ)Li6 Big Bang Radiative Capture

C. Hebborn, G. Hupin, K. Kravvaris, S. Quaglioni, P. Navrátil, and P. Gysbers
Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 042503 – Published 20 July 2022
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Abstract

The rate at which helium (He4) and deuterium (d) fuse together to produce lithium-6 (Li6) and a γ ray, He4(d,γ)Li6, is a critical puzzle piece in resolving the discrepancy between big bang predictions and astronomical observations for the primordial abundance of Li6. The accurate determination of this radiative capture rate requires the quantitative and predictive description of the fusion probability across the big bang energy window (30keVE400keV), where measurements are hindered by low counting rates. We present first-principle (or, ab initio) predictions of the He4(d,γ)Li6 astrophysical S factor using validated nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions derived within the framework of chiral effective field theory. By employing the ab initio no-core shell model with continuum to describe He4d scattering dynamics and bound Li6 product on an equal footing, we accurately and consistently determine the contributions of the main electromagnetic transitions driving the radiative capture process. Our results reveal an enhancement of the capture probability below 100 keV owing to previously neglected magnetic dipole (M1) transitions and reduce by an average factor of 7 the uncertainty of the thermonuclear capture rate between 0.002 and 2 GK.

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  • Received 19 April 2022
  • Revised 3 June 2022
  • Accepted 28 June 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.042503

© 2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear Physics

Authors & Affiliations

C. Hebborn1,2,*, G. Hupin3, K. Kravvaris2, S. Quaglioni2, P. Navrátil4, and P. Gysbers4,5

  • 1Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
  • 2Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-414, Livermore, California 94551, USA
  • 3Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab, 91405 Orsay, France
  • 4TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver British Columbia V6T 2A3, Canada
  • 5Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • *hebborn@frib.msu.edu

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Issue

Vol. 129, Iss. 4 — 22 July 2022

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