Measurement of near-threshold resonances in for Big Bang nucleosynthesis
Phys. Rev. C 113, 015805 – Published 16 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/37y9-m3yb
Abstract
The relative distribution of isotopes produced during the big bang is a sensitive probe of cosmology. Uncertainties remain in the nuclear reactions between deuterium and , which lead to a reduction in the yield. In two experiments using the reaction, the spectrum of states above the deuteron threshold was investigated with the SE-SPS spectrograph and their decay through , or emission observed in coincidence with the SABRE silicon detector array. The dominant resonance was measured at 299(13)-keV center-of-mass energy, and its decay branching ratios were determined. This resonance energy and resonance strength of 1.7(4) keV correspond to higher reaction rates and smaller uncertainties than a previous experiment, but do not alter the big-bang nucleosynthesis yield for significantly. An additional tentative peak at 150(12) keV was observed, but could not conclusively be attributed to the channel and was not observed in other channels.