This process, which requires stable free neutrons, was shut off by a cooling expansion that kicked in prior to the start of the Triple-Alpha process, thanks to the lack of stable nucleons with mass 5 or 8.
This process was proposed to rectify holes in the original B2FH ("B-squared F H") paper, which implies a high-metallicity universe. This process, which requires stable free neutrons, was shut off by a cooling expansion that kicked in prior to the start of the Triple-Alpha process, thanks to the lack of stable nucleons with mass 5 or 8. A low baryonic ratio measured in the Cosmic Microwave Background is consistent with this process as the cause of the residual (*) Deuterium and Helium-4 found throughout the universe; the latter isotope is found at an almost constant cosmic density of 25% by mass thanks to this process, regardless of age. For 10 points, name this process by which the first elements other than hydrogen were formed within several minutes following the birth of the universe.
This process was proposed to rectify holes in the original B2FH ("B-squared F H") paper, which implies a high-metallicity universe.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis [prompt on partial answer; accept descriptions like "synthesis of light elements during the Big Bang" and reasonable equivalents; accept "Helium" or "Deuterium" in place of "light elements" before those things are mentioned and "birth of the universe" or equivalents for "Big Bang"]