Primordial lithium and the standard model(s).

Abstract

We present the results of new theoretical work on surface $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ evolution in the oldest halo stars along with a new and refined analysis of the predicted primordial lithium abundance resulting from big-bang nucleosynthesis. This allows us to determine the constraints which can be imposed upon cosmology using primordial lithium and both standard big-bang and stellar-evolution models. This leads to a constraint on the baryon density today of $0.0044<{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{b}{h}^{2}<0.025$ (where the Hubble constant is $100h$ km ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{Mpc}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), and impose limitations on alternative nucleosynthesis scenarios.