Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems
We propose a non-exotic electromagnetic solution (within the standard model of particle physics) to the cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li problem based upon a narrow 2 MeV photo-emission line from the decay of light glueballs (LGBs). These LGBs form within color superconducting quark clusters...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/3/115 |
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| author | Rachid Ouyed Denis Leahy Nico Koning Prashanth Jaikumar |
| author_facet | Rachid Ouyed Denis Leahy Nico Koning Prashanth Jaikumar |
| author_sort | Rachid Ouyed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We propose a non-exotic electromagnetic solution (within the standard model of particle physics) to the cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li problem based upon a narrow 2 MeV photo-emission line from the decay of light glueballs (LGBs). These LGBs form within color superconducting quark clusters (SQCs), which are tens of Fermi in size, in the radiation-dominated post-BBN epoch. The mono-chromatic line from the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>γ</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>γ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decay reduces Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) <sup>7</sup>Be by <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>/</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> without affecting other abundances or the cosmic microwave background (CMB) physics, provided the combined mass of the SQCs is greater than the total baryonic mass in the universe. Following the LGB emission, the in-SQC Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) vacuum becomes unstable and “leaks” (via quantum tunneling) into the external space-time (trivial) vacuum, inducing a decoupling of SQCs from hadrons. In seeking a solution to the <sup>7</sup>Li problem, we uncovered a solution that also addresses the Dark Energy (DE) and dark matter (DM) problem, making these critical problems intertwined in our model. Being colorless, charge-neutral, optically thin, and transparent to hadrons, SQCs interact only gravitationally, making them a viable cold DM (CDM) candidate. The leakage (i.e., quantum tunneling) of the in-SQC QCD vacuum to the trivial vacuum offers an explanation of DE in our model and allows for a cosmology that evolves into a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>Λ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>CDM universe at a low redshift with a possible resolution of the Hubble tension. Our model distinguishes itself by proposing that the QCD vacuum within SQCs possesses the ability to tunnel into the exterior trivial vacuum, resulting in the generation of DE. This implies the possibility that DM and hadrons might represent distinct phases of quark matter within the framework of QCD, characterized by different vacuum properties. We discuss SQC formation in heavy-ion collision experiments at moderate temperatures and the possibility of detection of MeV photons from the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>γ</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>γ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decay. |
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| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a556c738dfa45308ca3b9086efb46342024-03-27T14:06:38ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972024-03-0110311510.3390/universe10030115Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy ProblemsRachid Ouyed0Denis Leahy1Nico Koning2Prashanth Jaikumar3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USAWe propose a non-exotic electromagnetic solution (within the standard model of particle physics) to the cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li problem based upon a narrow 2 MeV photo-emission line from the decay of light glueballs (LGBs). These LGBs form within color superconducting quark clusters (SQCs), which are tens of Fermi in size, in the radiation-dominated post-BBN epoch. The mono-chromatic line from the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>γ</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>γ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decay reduces Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) <sup>7</sup>Be by <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>/</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> without affecting other abundances or the cosmic microwave background (CMB) physics, provided the combined mass of the SQCs is greater than the total baryonic mass in the universe. Following the LGB emission, the in-SQC Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) vacuum becomes unstable and “leaks” (via quantum tunneling) into the external space-time (trivial) vacuum, inducing a decoupling of SQCs from hadrons. In seeking a solution to the <sup>7</sup>Li problem, we uncovered a solution that also addresses the Dark Energy (DE) and dark matter (DM) problem, making these critical problems intertwined in our model. Being colorless, charge-neutral, optically thin, and transparent to hadrons, SQCs interact only gravitationally, making them a viable cold DM (CDM) candidate. The leakage (i.e., quantum tunneling) of the in-SQC QCD vacuum to the trivial vacuum offers an explanation of DE in our model and allows for a cosmology that evolves into a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>Λ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>CDM universe at a low redshift with a possible resolution of the Hubble tension. Our model distinguishes itself by proposing that the QCD vacuum within SQCs possesses the ability to tunnel into the exterior trivial vacuum, resulting in the generation of DE. This implies the possibility that DM and hadrons might represent distinct phases of quark matter within the framework of QCD, characterized by different vacuum properties. We discuss SQC formation in heavy-ion collision experiments at moderate temperatures and the possibility of detection of MeV photons from the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>G</mi><mi>B</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>γ</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>γ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decay.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/3/115cosmologyearly universeprimordial nucleosynthesisdark matterdark energy |
| spellingShingle | Rachid Ouyed Denis Leahy Nico Koning Prashanth Jaikumar Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems Universe cosmology early universe primordial nucleosynthesis dark matter dark energy |
| title | Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems |
| title_full | Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems |
| title_fullStr | Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems |
| title_short | Quark Clusters, QCD Vacuum and the Cosmological <sup>7</sup>Li, Dark Matter and Dark Energy Problems |
| title_sort | quark clusters qcd vacuum and the cosmological sup 7 sup li dark matter and dark energy problems |
| topic | cosmology early universe primordial nucleosynthesis dark matter dark energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/3/115 |
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