PRESENT STATUS OF PRIMORDIAL NUCLEOSYNTHESIS AFTER WMAP: RESULTS FROM A NEW BBN CODE

Abstract

We report on the status of primordial nucleosynthesis in light of recent results on CMB anisotropies from WMAP experiment. Theoretical estimates for nuclei abundances, along with the corresponding uncertainties, are evaluated using a new numerical code, where all nuclear rates usually considered have been updated using the most recent available data. Moreover, additional processes neglected in previous calculations have been included. The combined analysis of CMB and primordial nucleosynthesis prediction for Deuterium gives an effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom in good agreement with the simplest scenario of three nondegenerate neutrinos. Our findings seem to point out possible systematics affecting 4 He mass fraction measurements, or the effect of exotic physics, like a slightly degenerate relic neutrino background.