Neutrino Production of Deuterium in Supermassive Stars and Possible Implications for Deuterium Detections in Ly-Limit Systems

We describe how thermally produced anti-electron neutrinos (ν̄e) from the homologously collapsing core of a supermassive star (M ∼> 5 × 10 M⊙) can lead to significant deuterium enrichment in the ejected envelope of such a star. Deuterium-enriched material at high redshift might then serve as a clue to the existence of pregalactic supermassive stars. Conceivably, the ejected deuterium-enriched material could intercept the line of sight to a distant QSO and mimic a Lyman limit absorber. In such a case, the deuterium abundance inferred from absorption lines might not reflect the true primordial abundance of deuterium. We discuss relevant theoretical uncertainties in supermassive star physics as well as potential observational signatures in Lyman α absorber clouds for processing by stars of this kind. Subject headings: elementary particles nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances cosmology: observations and theory