Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, Implications of Recent CMB Data and Supersymmetric Dark Matter

Keith A. Olive

Published 2002-02-26, updated 2002-03-01Version 2

The BBN predictions for the abundances of the light element isotopes is reviewed and compared with recent observational data. The single unknown parameter of standard BBN is the baryon-to-photon ratio, \eta, and can be determined by the concordance between theory and observation. Recent CMB anisotropy measurements also lead to a determination of \eta and these results are contrasted with those from BBN. In addition, the CMB data indicate that the Universe is spatially flat. Thus it is clear that some form of non-baryonic dark matter or dark energy is necessary. Here I will also review the current expectations for cold dark matter from minimal supersymmetric models. The viability of detecting supersymmetric dark matter will also be discussed.