Progress of the Study of Neutron Interactions with $^{7}$Be*

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) is today a parameter-free theory. It correctly predicts the abundance relative to hydrogen, of primordial deuterium, helium, and helion but over predicts the relative abundance of primordial $^{7}$Li which is primarily (95{\%}) the byproduct of the decay of $^{7}$Be. This has been dubbed as the primordial $^{7}$Li problem. We are proposing to study the interaction of neutrons with $^{7}$Be in order to understand the direct destruction of the primordial $^{7}$Be. The experiment being proposed will be performed at the SARAF facility in Israel using the LiLiT neutron generator and an implanted $^{7}$Be target produced at ISOLDE from a $^{7}$Be sample produced at the PSI. An implantation set up was constructed and tested at ISOLDE using 35 keV $^{10}$B. The implanted $^{10}$B targets were tested using the intense CERN Pu-Be source. For the first generation measurement of the $^{7}$Be(n,$\alpha$) reaction we plan to use CR-39 plastic track detectors to detect the emanating alpha-particles (and protons). Such detectors were tested in our lab using alpha-source and we are developing the use of these detectors for our measurement. Future experiments will utilize a split gas ionization chamber and silicon detectors. We will review the progress of this research project.