Finite Temperature Wave-Function Renormalization, A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

We compare two competing theories regarding finite temperature wave-function corrections for the process $H\to e^{+}{e}^{-}$ and for $n+\nu \to p+e^{-}$ and related processes of interest for primordial nucleosynthesis. Although the two methods are distinct (as shown in $H\to e^{+}{e}^{-}$) they yield the same finite temperature correction for all $n\to p$ and $p\to n$ processes. Both methods yield an increase in the He/H ratio of .01% due to finite temperature renormalization rather than a decrease of .16% as previously predicted.

Comments: 12 pages, 3 figures. LaTeX