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This study investigates how variations in the Higgs vacuum expectation value (VEV) during the early universe affect big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the formation of light elements. The researchers found that a 1.58% increase in the Higgs VEV during BBN could reconcile discrepancies between recently observed helium-4 abundances and measurements of deuterium and lithium, though this would require non-standard cosmological evolution between BBN and the later recombination epoch. A smaller 0.2% increase could partially resolve the long-standing "cosmic lithium problem" while remaining consistent with cosmic microwave background observations.
Why it matters
These findings could help resolve fundamental inconsistencies in our understanding of early universe physics and the formation of light elements. If confirmed, this would indicate that fundamental constants may have evolved over cosmic time and suggest new physics beyond the Standard Model operated during the universe's first minutes.
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⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
Abstract: The Higgs vacuum expectation value (VEV) alters both the electroweak and strong interaction rates. We study both effects on big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and seek concordance between observed primordial abundances of light elements and cosmological constraints from CMB fluctuations and anisotropies. We find a strong negative correlation between primordial 4He abundance and the Higgs VEV. Consequently, using a 1.58% uplift of the Higgs VEV during BBN from the current value, an agreement can be achieved among the new primordial 4He abundance, observed by the EMPRESS group, Deuterium abundance determined from absorption lines in the Lyman-alpha forest along the line-of-sight of high-redshift quasars, and the lithium abundance on the Spite plateau. This agreement requires a baryon-to-photon ratio different from the CMB determination, indicating the need for nonstandard cosmological evolution between BBN and recombination epochs. We also demonstrate that a 0.2% uplift in the Higgs VEV can partially alleviate the “cosmic Li problem,” keeping consistency with the CMB with remaining discrepancy potentially accounted for by stellar depletion mechanisms.