Steps Toward the Cosmic Abundance of 3-Helium

二十多年来，人们已经认识到， 轻同位素3 He提供了一个敏感的理论 大爆炸模型的约束的最初几分钟的 宇宙 Bania和Rood博士建议继续以前的工作 由NSF支持，以确定丰度比3 He/H在 发光的星际气体云（“H II”和行星状星云） 围绕着我们银河系和附近星系的热恒星。的 调查人员已经大大改进了无线电接收器， 减少程序，以便既检测微弱的来源， 选择那些核进化过程在附近 星星是最小的。 预计新的约束条件可以 被放置在早期的宇宙大爆炸模型中， 三年计划。

It has been recognized for over twenty years that the abundance of the light isotope 3He provides a sensitive theoretical constraint on Big Bang models of the first few minutes of the Universe. Drs. Bania and Rood propose to continue work previously supported by the NSF to determine the abundance ratio 3He/H in glowing interstellar gas clouds ("H II" and planetary nebulae) surrounding hot stars in our Galaxy and nearby galaxies. The Investigators have substantially improved radio receivers and reduction procedures in order both to detect fainter sources and to select those in which nuclear evolutionary processes in nearby stars have been minimal. It is expected that new constraints can be placed on early Universe Big Bang models as a result of this three year program.