What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to validate the U-Cell Model's baryon density prediction against primordial Big Bang Nucleosynthesis data.

April 6, 2026Open Access

UCM Prediction Ωbh2=0.02246: Test Against Primordial Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

Key Points

This research aims to validate the U-Cell Model's baryon density prediction against primordial Big Bang Nucleosynthesis data.
Deriving baryon density using the U-Cell Model with no free parameters.
Testing predictions against D/H and Yp from recent literature.
Analyzing discrepancies between UCM and Planck Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data.
The UCM predicts baryon density Ωbh2=0.02246 with varying consistency against D/H and Yp.
D/H abundance shows 0.9σ consistency, while Yp shows 0.5σ.
A precision D/H measurement indicates 4.2σ tension and correlates with a 2.9σ discrepancy from Planck.

Abstract

The U-Cell Model (UCM) derives the baryon density Ωbh2=0.02246 from a single substrate constant fcold=2−π/2, with zero free parameters. This paper tests this prediction against two probes of primordial Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN): the primordial deuterium abundance D/H and the helium-4 mass fraction Yp. The PDG-recommended D/H (Yeh et al. 2023, twelve systems) is consistent at 0.9σ; Yp (Aver et al. 2021) at 0.5σ. The precision Cooke et al. (2018) D/H gives 4.2σ tension, but the same dataset is already 2.9σ from Planck CMB — a pre-existing literature discrepancy. Since the UCM baryon density derives from the same CLASS CMB constraint as Planck, the UCM inherits rather than introduces this tension; the UCM-specific addition is ≈1.3σ. BBN probes the UCM prediction at z∼109, nine orders of magnitude earlier than the geometric tests of Papers 14–24. Part of the UCM preprint series (ORCID 0009-0005-5088-4339).

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