Neutron Diffusion and Nucleosynthesis in an Inhomogeneous Big Bang Model

Abstract

This article describes the production of primordial He4 nuclei in an inhomogeneous universe. The baryon distribution is spherically symmetric and consists of a high density inner region and a low density outer region. As the temperature decreases neutrons diffuse to the outer region until they are homogeneously distributed, and protons may be redistributed depending on how fast diffusion occurs. Nucleosynthesis occurs earlier in the inner region and neutrons diffuse back to that region. The rapidity of diffusion determines how much He4 is ultimately produced.