The Origin of ⁶Li and the Reionization of the Universe

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France

Abstract

Observational data on the early galactic abundances of the light elements lithium, beryllium and boron are combined with data related to the reionization of the intergalactic medium (IGM) in a search of processes happening in the early universe. Early massive metal-free stars (Pop III), largely held responsible for the reionization of the IGM, are proposed to have been also the injectors of the lithium-6 plateau, through their winds. In this sense the evolution of the ⁶Li/⁹Be ratio appears to be a key parameter for the history of nucleosynthesis as a monitor of the early formation of metals and their subsequent injection in high energy particles.