The $$^7\textrm{Be}$$ destruction reactions and the cosmological lithium problem

Abstract

In this review, we survey a number of experiments over the last few decades, that specifically study the destruction of the \(^7\textrm{Be}\) nucleus, in search for a solution to the long standing cosmological lithium problem. The destruction of \(^7\textrm{Be}\) by both neutrons and charged particles are discussed. However, the reduction in the abundance of the primordial \(^7\textrm{Li}\) is found to be negligible and thus the lithium anomaly remains. The second lithium problem involving \(^6\textrm{Li}\) is still controversial. Overall, it appears that the solution to the lithium problems may not reside in nuclear physics.