Overview
The LBT Yp Project is an NSF-funded program that combines new Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) observations with a new analysis methodology to significantly improve the determination of the primordial helium abundance, YP. We obtained data with the LBT's MODS and LUCI spectrographs, which, when combined with our new analysis methodology, delivered 4He abundances in individual HII regions with uncertainties of approximately 2% or less.
Data Products
This repository will provide the community with access to all the LBT Yp Project's reduced spectral data products:
- Reduced MODS optical and LUCI near-infrared 1d spectra of Yp project galaxies in FITS binary table format
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Papers
"The LBT Yp Project I: An Improved Determination of the Primordial Helium Abundance -- Project Description, Sample Selection, Observations, and Methodology", Skillman, E. D., R. W. Pogge, E. Aver, and 9 colleagues, 2026, ApJ, submitted, arXiv, arXiv:2601.22232
"The LBT Yp Project II: MODS Spectra, Physical Conditions, and Oxygen Abundances in Local Metal-Poor Nebulae", Rogers, N. S. J., E. D. Skillman, R. W. Pogge, and 7 colleagues, 2026, ApJ, submitted, arXiv, arXiv:2601.22236
"The LBT Yp Project III: LUCI Spectra of Metal-Poor Nebulae", Weller, M. K., R. W. Pogge, E. D. Skillman, and 6 colleagues, 2026, ApJ, submitted, arXiv, arXiv:2601.22237
"The LBT Yp Project IV: A New Value of the Primordial Helium Abundance", Aver, E., E. D. Skillman, R. W. Pogge, and 7 colleagues, 2026, ApJ, submitted, arXiv, arXiv:2601.22238
"The LBT Yp Project V: Cosmological Implications of a New Determination of Primordial $^4$He", Yeh, T.-H., K. A. Olive, B. D. Fields, E. Aver, R. W. Pogge, N. S. J. Rogers, E. D. Skillman, and M. K. Weller, 2026, ApJ, submitted, arXiv, arXiv:2601.22239
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Awards
- U.S. National Science Foundation
- U.S. National Science Foundation
- U.S. National Science Foundation