Primordial helium abundance from CMB: A constraint from recent observations and a forecast

We studied a constraint on the primordial helium abundance Y{sub p} from current and future observations of CMB. Using the currently available data from WMAP, ACBAR, CBI, and BOOMERANG, we obtained the constraint as Y{sub p}=0.25{sub -0.07}{sup +0.10} at 68% confidence level. We also provide a forecast for the Planck experiment using the Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. In addition to forecasting the constraint on Y{sub p}, we investigate how assumptions for Y{sub p} affect constraints on the other cosmological parameters.

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