Viability of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis in $f(R,L_m)$ Gravity

Abstract

We examine the viability of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) constraints in $f(R,L_m)$ gravity, where the gravitational Lagrangian is an arbitrary function of the the Ricci scalar $R$ and matter Lagrangian density $L_m$. We derive stringent bounds on the underlying model parameters of four different $f(R,L_m)$ gravity models by examining both the primordial abundances of helium-4 ($^4\text{He}$) and the fractional variations in the neutron--proton freeze out temperature. Our results reveal that $f(R,L_m)$ gravity remains viable under the BBN constraints. With the freeze-out condition offering the most dominat constraint on the parameter space, whereas the bounds from $^4\text{He}$ abundance act as a separate abundance level consistency checks on the modified expansion rate. In summary, the presence of these feasible parameter regions demonstrates that $f(R,L_m)$ gravity models can successfully accommodate primordial element abundances without disrupting standard early Universe dynamics.