How do we determine the production of H and He during BBN?

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The production of hydrogen (H) and helium (He) during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) is determined through numerical simulations that account for various initial conditions and known cross-sections of nuclear processes. These simulations allow researchers to model the conditions following the Big Bang and predict the resulting elemental abundances. Wikipedia cites that approximately 74% of the universe consists of hydrogen and about 24% helium, with minor variations. The precise ratios are derived from these simulations, which incorporate different parameters to reflect the early universe's environment. Understanding BBN is crucial for comprehending the universe's composition and evolution.
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How do we calculate how much H and He is created during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis?

Wikipedia states that regardless of some initial conditions during BBN, it will always be that 74% of the universe is H and 24% of the universe is He, plus or minus a couple percent. How is this determined?

Sorry - I know this question is fairly basic.
 
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I don't think there is an analytic approach, but you can simulate the conditions after the big bang numerically with different parameters. With known cross-sections for the different processes at different energies, you can simulate nucleosynthesis.
 

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