Cross section for the primordial reaction [sup 8]Li([ital p],[ital n])[sup 8]Be (g. s. ) at [ital E][sub c. m. ]=1. 5 MeV

The differential cross section for the primordial reaction [sup 8]Li([ital p],[ital n])[sup 8]Be(g.s.) has been determined at [ital E][sub c.m.]=1.5 MeV in the c.m. angular range 38[degree] to 90[degree] by use of the radioactive nuclear beam facility at the University of Notre Dame which utilizes a superconducting solenoid lens system designed at the University of Michigan, and a [sup 8]Be detection technique developed at the Florida State University. A [sup 8]Li beam of approximately 10[sup 7] pps is used to infer a total cross section of 21[plus minus]2 mb, with a 20% absolute cross section uncertainty. This total cross section is a factor of two smaller than a conventional Hauser-Feshbach calculation and it is also much smaller than that of some other [sup 8]Li burning reactions.