Big bang nucleosynthesis predictions for precision cosmology

The determination of the primeval deuterium abundance has opened a precisio n era in big bang nucleosynthesis, making accurate predictions more importa nt than ever before. We present in analytic form new, more precise predicti ons for the light-element abundances and their error matrix. Using our pred ictions and the primeval deuterium abundance, we infer a baryon density of (3)Omega (beta)h(2) = 0.020 +/- 0.002 (95% confidence level) and find no ev idence for stellar production (or destruction) of He-3 beyond burning D int o He-3. Conclusions about He-4 and Li-7 currently hinge on possible systema tic errors in their measurements.