Effect of the variation of the Higgs vacuum expectation value upon the deuterium binding energy and primordial abundances of D and 4He

Abstract

Aims. We calculate the constraints on the time variation of the Higgs vacuum expectation value from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. Methods. Starting from the calculation of the deuterium binding-energy, as a function of the pion-mass and using the NN-Reid 93 potential, we calculate the abundances of primordial D and 4He by modifying Kawano's code. The Higgs vacuum expectation value (v) and the baryon to photon ratio (ηB) enter the calculation as free parameters. By using the observational data of D and 4He, we set constraints on ηB and on the variation of v, relative to a constant value of ΛQCD. Results. Results are consistent with null variation in v and € D for the early universe, within 6σ. Conclusions. We obtained a linear dependence of € D upon v and found that the best-fit-value of the variation of v is null within 6σ.