NUCLEAR-REACTION RATES AND PRIMORDIAL LI-6

We examine the possibility that big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) may pro duce nontrivial amounts of Li-6. If a primordial component of this iso tope could be observed, it would provide a new fundamental test of big -bang cosmology, as well as new constraints on the baryon density of t he universe. At present, however, theoretical predictions of the primo rdial Li-6 abundance are extremely uncertain due to difficulties in bo th theoretical estimates and experimental determinations of the H-2(al pha, gamma)Li-6 radiative capture reaction cross section. We also argu e that present observational capabilities do not yet allow the detecti on of primeval Li-6 in very metal-poor stars of the galactic halo. How ever, if the critical cross section is very high in its plausible rang e and the baryon density is relatively low, then improvements in Li-6 detection capabilities may anew the establishment of Li-6 as another p roduct of BBN. It is also doted that a primordial Li-6 detection could help resolve current concerns about the extragalactic D/H determinati on.