Black Hole Dark Matter Research Articles

Through the looking glass into the dark dimension: Searching for bulk black hole dark matter with microlensing of [formula omitted]-ray pulsars

Primordial black holes (PBHs) hidden in the incredible bulk of the dark dimension could escape constraints from non-observation of their Hawking radiation. Since these five-dimensional (5D) PBHs are bigger, colder, and longer-lived than usual 4D PBHs of the same mass M, they could make all cosmological dark matter if 1011≲M/g≲1021, i.e., extending the 4D allowed region far down the asteroid-mass window. We show that these evasive PBHs could be search for by measuring their X-ray microlensing events from faraway pulsars. We also show that future X-ray microlensing experiments will be able to probe the interesting range (1016.5≲M/g≲1017.5g) where an all dark matter interpretation in terms of 4D Schwarzschild PBHs is excluded by the non-observation of their Hawking radiation.

Impact of primordial black hole dark matter on gas properties at very high redshift: Semianalytical model

Context. Primordial black holes (PBHs) have been proposed as potential candidates for dark matter (DM) and have garnered significant attention in recent years. Aims. Our objective is to delve into the distinct impact of PBHs on the gas properties and their potential role in shaping the cosmic structure. Specifically, we aim to analyze the evolving gas properties while considering the presence of accreting PBHs with varying monochromatic masses and in different quantities. By studying the feedback effects produced by this accretion, our final goal is to assess the plausibility of PBHs as candidates for DM. Methods. We developed a semianalytical model that works on top of the CIELO hydrodynamical simulation around z ∼ 23. This model enables a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of gas properties affected by PBHs. Our focus lies on the temperature and hydrogen abundances, with specific emphasis on the region closest to the halo center. We explore PBH masses of 1, 33, and 100 M⊙, located within mass windows in which a substantial fraction of DM could exist in the form of PBHs. We investigated various DM fractions composed of these PBHs (fPBH > 10−4). Results. Our findings suggest that PBHs with masses of 1 M⊙ and fractions greater than or equal to approximately 10−2 would be ruled out due to the significant changes induced in the gas properties. The same applies to PBHs with a mass of 33 M⊙ and 100 M⊙ and fractions greater than approximately 10−3. These effects are particularly pronounced in the region nearest to the halo center, potentially leading to delayed galaxy formation within halos.

One-loop power spectrum in ultra slow-roll inflation and implications for primordial black hole dark matter

We apply the in-in formalism to address the question of whether the size of the one-loop spectrum of curvature fluctuations in ultra-slow-roll inflation models designed for producing a large population of primordial black holes implies a breakdown of perturbation theory. We consider a simplified piece-wise description of inflation, in which the ultra-slow-roll phase is preceded and followed by slow-roll phases linked by transitional periods. We work in the δϕ-gauge, including all relevant cubic and quartic interactions and the necessary counterterms to renormalize the ultraviolet divergences, regularized by a cutoff. The ratio of the one-loop to the tree-level contributions to the spectrum of curvature perturbations is controlled by the duration of the ultra-slow-roll phase and of the transitions. Our results indicate that perturbation theory does not necessarily break in well-known models proposed to account for all the dark matter in the form of primordial black holes.

Extremal Kerr black hole dark matter from Hawking evaporation

Extremal Kerr black hole dark matter from Hawking evaporation

Magnetogenesis with gravitational waves and primordial black hole dark matter

Strongly supercooled first-order phase transitions (FOPTs) can produce primordial black hole (PBH) dark matter (DM) along with observable gravitational waves (GWs) from bubble collisions. Such FOPTs may also produce coherent magnetic fields generated by bubble collisions and by turbulence in the primordial plasma. Here we find that the requirement for PBH DM can produce large primordial magnetic fields which subsequently yield intergalactic magnetic fields in the present Universe (with magnitude ≲20 pG across coherence length scales of ≃0.001–0.01 Mpc, assuming maximally helical magnetic fields) that easily exceed lower bounds from blazar observations. We follow a largely model-independent approach and highlight the possibility of producing DM and observable multimessenger magnetic fields and GW signals visible in next generation experiments. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Gravitation wave signal from asteroid mass primordial black hole dark matter

Primordial black holes (PBHs) in the mass range ∼1017–1023 g are currently unconstrained, and can constitute the full dark matter (DM) density of the universe. Motivated by this, in the current work, we aim to relate the existence of PBHs in the said mass range to the production of observable gravitational waves (GWs) in the upcoming GW detectors. We follow a relatively model-independent approach assuming that the PBHs took birth in a radiation dominated era from enhanced primordial curvature perturbation at small scales produced by inflation. We show that the constraints from cosmic microwave background and BAO data allow for the possibility of PBHs being the whole of DM density of the universe. Finally, we derive the GW spectrum induced by the enhanced curvature perturbations and show that they are detectable in the future GW detectors like eLISA, LISA, BBO, and DECIGO. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Planck constraints and gravitational wave forecasts for primordial black hole dark matter seeded by multifield inflation

Planck constraints and gravitational wave forecasts for primordial black hole dark matter seeded by multifield inflation

Modelling uncertainties in wide binary constraints on primordial black holes

ABSTRACT Dark matter in the form of compact objects with mass Mco ≳ 10 M⊙ can be constrained by its dynamical effects on wide binary stars. Motivated by the recent interest in primordial black hole dark matter, we revisit the theoretical modelling involved in these constraints. We improve on previous studies in several ways. Specifically, we (i) implement a physically motivated model for the initial wide-binary semimajor axis distribution, (ii) include unbound binaries, and (iii) take into account the uncertainty in the relationship between semimajor axis and observed angular separation. These effects all tend to increase the predicted number of wide binaries (for a given compact object population). Therefore, the constraints on the halo fraction in compact objects, fco, are significantly weakened. For the wide binary sample used in the most recent calculation of the constraints, we find the fraction of halo dark matter in compact objects is fco < 1 for $M_{\rm co} \approx 300 \, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$, tightening with increasing Mco to fco < 0.26 for $M_{\rm co} \gtrsim 1000 \, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$.

Primordial black hole dark matter from catastrogenesis with unstable pseudo-Goldstone bosons

We propose a new scenario for the formation of asteroid-mass primordial black holes (PBHs). Our mechanism is based on the annihilation of the string-wall network associated with the breaking of a U(1) global symmetry into a discrete ZN symmetry. If the potential has multiple local minima (N > 1) the network is stable, and the annihilation is guaranteed by a bias among the different vacua. The collapse of the string-wall network is accompanied by catastrogenesis, a large production of pseudo-Goldstone bosons (pGBs) — e.g. axions, ALPs, or majorons — gravitational waves, and PBHs. If pGBs rapidly decay into products that thermalize, as predicted e.g. in the high-quality QCD axion and heavy majoron models, they do not contribute to the dark matter population, but we show that PBHs can constitute 100% of the dark matter. The gravitational wave background produced by catastrogenesis with heavy unstable axions, ALPs, or majorons could be visible in future interferometers.

Astrometric microlensing of primordial black holes with Gaia

The Gaia space telescope allows for unprecedented accuracy for astrometric measurements of stars in the Galaxy. In this work, we explore the sensitivity of Gaia to detect primordial black hole (PBH) dark matter through the distortions that PBHs would create in the apparent trajectories of background stars, an effect known as astrometric microlensing (AML). We present a novel calculation of the lensing probability, and we combine this with the existing publicly released Gaia eDR3 stellar catalog to predict the expected rate of AML events that Gaia will see. We also compute the expected distribution of a few event observables, which will be useful for reducing backgrounds.Assuming that the astrophysical background rate of AML like events due to other sources is negligible, we then compute the potential exclusion that could be set on the parameter space of PBHs with a monochromatic mass function. We find that Gaia is sensitive to PBHs in the range of 0.4 M ⊙–5 × 107 M ⊙, and has peak sensitivity to PBHs of ∼ 10 M ⊙ for which it can rule out as little as a fraction 3 × 10-4 of dark matter composed of PBHs. With this exquisite sensitivity, Gaia has the potential to rule out a PBH origin for the gravitational wave signals seen at LIGO/Virgo. Our novel calculation of the lensing probability includes for the first time, the effect of intermediate duration lensing events, where the lensing event lasts for a few years, but for a period which is still shorter than the Gaia mission lifetime. The lower end of our predicted mass exclusion is especially sensitive to this class of lensing events. As and when time-series data for Gaia is released, and once we have a better understanding of the astrophysical background rate to AML signals, our prediction of the lensing rate and event observable distributions will be useful to estimate the true exclusion/discovery of the PBH parameter space utilizing this data.

Baryogenesis and primordial black hole dark matter from heavy metastable particles

We propose a novel and simple scenario to explain baryon asymmetry and dark matter (DM) by utilizing an early matter-dominated era (EMDE) caused by a heavy metastable particle. Within the EMDE, lack of pressure enhances the formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) which can then contribute to the relic abundance of DM. The eventual decay of heavy metastable particle that has baryon number and $CP$-violating interactions reheats the Universe and gives rise to baryon asymmetry. Since in this setup, PBH serves as a DM candidate, the particle physics model may not require new stable degrees of freedom which leads to more freedom in the model-building side. As an example, we show that a modulus field which dominates the energy density of the Universe prior to its decay, may explain both DM and baryon asymmetry in the Universe in the context of the minimally supersymmetric Standard Model while the lightest superparticle is not stable and cannot be a DM candidate due to the $R$-parity violating interactions needed for baryogenesis.

Superradiant axion clouds around asteroid-mass primordial black holes

We analyze the dynamics and observational signatures of axion clouds formed via the superradiant instability around primordial black holes, focusing on the mass range 1014 - 1018 kg where the latter may account for all the dark matter.We take into account the leading effects of axion self-interactions, showing that, even though these limit the number of axions produced within each cloud,a large number of superradiant axions become free of the black hole's gravitational potential and accumulate in the intergalactic medium or even in the host galaxy, depending on their escape velocity. This means that primordial black hole dark matter may lead to a sizeable astrophysical population of non-relativistic axions, with masses ranging from 0.1 eV to 1 MeV, depending on the primordial black hole mass and spin.We then show that if such axions couple to photons their contribution to the galactic and extragalactic background flux, mainly in the X-ray and gamma-ray band of the spectrum, is already beyond current observational limits for a large range of parameters that are, therefore, excluded. We finish by showing the prospects of the Athena X-ray telescope to further probe this co-existence of primordial black holes and axions.

Primordial black holes and secondary gravitational waves produced by S-dual inflation model

<sec>It is discussed in this work to produce primordial black hole (PBH) dark matter (DM) and scalar induced secondary gravitational waves by using the enhancement mechanism with a peak function in the non-canonical kinetic term in S-dual inflation. It is shown explicitly that the power spectrum for the primordial curvature perturbation can be enhanced at 10<sup>12</sup>, 10<sup>8</sup> and 10<sup>5</sup> Mpc<sup>–1</sup>, respectively, that the primordial black hole dark matter with peak mass around 10<sup>–13</sup> solar mass, the Earth’s mass and the stellar mass are generated, respectively, and that the scalar induced gravitational wave with peak frequency around mHz, μHz and nHz are created, respectively. The primordial black hole with the mass scale 10<sup>–13</sup> solar mass can make up almost all the dark matter and the associated scalar induced secondary gravitational waves is testable by spaced based gravitational wave observatory.</sec><sec>The amplitude of primordial curvature perturbations on a small scale can become large by the enhancement mechanism with a peak function in the non-canonical kinetic term. We apply the enhancement mechanism to S-dual inflation to produce abundant PBHs and observable scalar induced gravitational waves (SIGWs). The power spectrum on a large scale is consistent with observational constraint, and the power spectrum on a small scale is enhanced to the 0.01. It is possible that either sharp peak or broad peak possesses a different peak shape for the peak function by choosing a different value of <i>q</i>. By adjusting the peak position <i>ϕ</i><sub>p</sub> in the peak function, the power spectrum is enhanced on a different scale, henceforth associated with the generation of SIGWs with a different peak frequency, PBHs with different mass are produced. We choose three different values of <i>ϕ</i><sub>p</sub> to obtain enhance power spectrum at 10<sup>12</sup>, 10<sup>8</sup> and 10<sup>5</sup> Mpc<sup>–1</sup>, respectively. The enhanced curvature perturbation produces PBH DM with peak mass around 10<sup>–13</sup> solar mass, the Earth’s mass and the stellar mass, and SIGW with peak frequency around mHz, µHz and nHz, respectively. The stellar mass PBHs may explain black holes observed by LIGO/Virgo collaboration, and the earth-mass PBHs may explain the planet 9. The PBH with the mass scale 10<sup>–13</sup> solar mass can make up almost all the dark matter. The SIGW with the peak frequency around nHz is testable by pulsar timing array observations, and SIGW with the peak frequency around mHz is testable by space based GW observatory. The results show that the enhancement mechanism with a peak function in the non-canonical kinetic term works for S-dual inflation.</sec>

Primordial Black Holes as dark matter candidates: Constraints from the diffuse MeV emission

For more than 20 years, the Compton telescope had provided the best measurements of the Galactic diffuse MeV spectrum. Recently, our analysis of 16 years of data from the SPectrometer on INTEGRAL (SPI) measured this emission with a higher signal-to-noise ratio. At MeV energies, the dominant contribution to the diffuse emission comes from inverse Compton scattering. Nonetheless, sub-dominant emission from Primordial Black Hole (PBH) Dark Matter (DM) can be searched for in these data. Hypothetically formed from the collapse of over-densities before Big Bang nucleosynthesis, PBHs are interesting candidates for DM in the ΛCDM model of cosmology. PBHs of masses between 1016 and 1018 g, in the so-called asteroid mass range, are currently unconstrained and can saturate the DM cosmological abundance. MeV emission from PBH in this mass range is expected to come from PBH evaporation. We searched for the PBH signal with 16 years of SPI data, and demonstrated that PBHs cannot account for all the DM if their mass is smaller than 4 × 1017 g.

Primordial black hole dark matter from inflation: The reverse engineering approach

Constraining the inflationary epoch is one of the aims of modern cosmology. In order to fully exploit current and future small-scale observations, it is necessary to devise tools to directly relate them to the early Universe's dynamics. We present here a novel reverse engineering approach able to connect fundamental late-time observables to consistent inflationary dynamics and, eventually, to the inflaton potential. Employing this procedure, we are able to describe which conditions can give rise to a raised plateau in the power spectrum of curvature perturbations at small scales, which are not constrained by CMB observations. Within this new phenomenologically driven approach, we find that inflation can generate a raised plateau in the spectrum of curvature perturbations that potentially connects three fundamental observables; a dominant component of the dark matter in the form of asteroid-mass/atomic-size primordial black holes, detectable signals in stochastic gravitational waves, and a subdominant fraction of stellar-mass primordial black holes mergers.

Search for primordial black hole dark matter with x-ray spectroscopic and imaging satellite experiments and prospects for future satellite missions

Ultra-light primordial black holes (PBHs) in the mass range of 10$^{16}$ - 10$^{22}$ g are allowed by current observations to constitute a significant fraction, if not all, of the dark matter in the Universe. In this work, we present limits on ultra-light, non-rotating PBHs which arise from the non-detection of the Hawking radiation signals from such objects in the keV-MeV energy band. Namely, we consider observations from the current-generation missions XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL/SPI and discuss the observational perspectives of the future missions Athena, eXTP, and THESEUS for PBH searches. Based on 3.4 Msec total exposure time XMM-Newton observations of Draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy, we conclude that PBH with masses $\lesssim 10^{16}$ g can not make all dark matter at 95% confidence level. Our ON-OFF-type analysis of $>100$ Msec of INTEGRAL/SPI data on the Milky Way halo puts significantly stronger constraints. Only $\lesssim 10$% dark matter can be presented by PBHs with masses $\lesssim 3\cdot 10^{16}$ g while the majority of dark matter can not be represented by PBHs lighter than $7\cdot 10^{16}$ g at 95% confidence level. We discuss the strong impact of systematic uncertainty related to the variations of instrumental and astrophysical INTEGRAL/SPI background on the derived results and estimate its level. We also show that future large-field-of-view missions such as THESEUS/X-GIS will be able to improve the constraints by a factor of 10-100 depending on the level of control under the systematics of these instruments.

Merging History of Massive Galaxies at 3 < z < 6

The observational data of high redshift galaxies become increasingly abundant, especially since the operation of the James Webb Space Telescope, which allows us to verify and optimize the galaxy formation model at high redshifts. In this work, we investigate the merging history of massive galaxies at 3 < z < 6 using a well-developed semi-analytic galaxy formation catalog. We find that the major merger rate increases with redshift up to 3 and then flattens. The fraction of wet mergers, during which the sum of the cold gas mass is higher than the sum of the stellar mass in two merging galaxies, also increases from ∼34% at z = 0 to 96% at z = 3. Interestingly, almost all major mergers are wet at z > 3. This can be attributed to the high fraction (>50%) of cold gas at z > 3. In addition, we study some special systems of massive merging galaxies at 3 < z < 6, including the massive gas-rich major merging systems and extreme dense proto-clusters, and investigate the supermassive black hole–dark matter halo mass relation and dual active galactic nuclei. We find that the galaxy formation model reproduces the incidence of those observed massive galaxies, but fails to reproduce the relation between the supermassive black hole mass and the dark matter halo mass at z ∼ 6. The latter requires more careful estimates of the supermassive black hole masses observationally. Otherwise, it could suggest modifications of the modeling of the supermassive black hole growth at high redshifts.

Primordial black holes and gravitational waves from dissipation during inflation

We study the generation of a localized peak in the primordial spectrum of curvature perturbations from a transient dissipative phase during inflation, leading to a large population of primordial black holes. The enhancement of the power spectrum occurs due to stochastic thermal noise sourcing curvature fluctuations. We solve the stochastic system of Einstein equations for many realizations of the noise and obtain the distribution for the curvature power spectrum. We then propose a method to find its expectation value using a deterministic system of differential equations. In addition, we find a single stochastic equation whose analytic solution helps to understand the main features of the spectrum. Finally, we derive a complete expression and a numerical estimate for the energy density of the stochastic background of gravitational waves induced at second order in perturbation theory. This includes the gravitational waves induced during inflation, during the subsequent radiation epoch and their mixing. Our scenario provides a novel way of generating primordial black hole dark matter with a peaked mass distribution and a detectable stochastic background of gravitational waves from inflation.

Hunt for light primordial black hole dark matter with ultrahigh-frequency gravitational waves

Light primordial black holes may comprise a dominant fraction of the dark matter in our Universe. This paper critically assesses whether planned and future gravitational wave detectors in the ultra-high-frequency band could constrain the fraction of dark matter composed of sub-solar primordial black holes. Adopting the state-of-the-art description of primordial black hole merger rates, we compare various signals with currently operating and planned detectors. As already noted in the literature, our findings confirm that detecting individual primordial black hole mergers with currently existing and operating proposals remains difficult. Current proposals involving gravitational wave to electromagnetic wave conversion in a static magnetic field and microwave cavities feature a technology gap with respect to the loudest gravitational wave signals from primordial black holes of various orders of magnitude. However, we point out that one recent proposal involving resonant LC circuits represents the best option in terms of individual merger detection prospects in the range $(1\div 100) \, \text{MHz}$. In the same frequency range, we note that alternative setups involving resonant cavities, whose concept is currently under development, might represent a promising technology to detect individual merger events. We also show that a detection of the stochastic gravitational wave background produced by unresolved binaries is possible only if the theoretical sensitivity of the proposed Gaussian beam detector is achieved. Such a detector, whose feasibility is subject to various caveats, may be able to rule-out some scenarios for asteroidal mass primordial black hole dark matter. We conclude that pursuing dedicated studies and developments of gravitational wave detectors in the ultra-high-frequency band remains motivated and may lead to novel probes on the existence of light primordial black holes.

Primordial black holes and gravitational waves in hybrid inflation with chaotic potentials

We study the formation of primordial black hole (PBH) dark matter and the generation of scalar induced secondary gravitational waves (SIGWs) in a non-supersymmetric model of hybrid inflation with chaotic (polynomial-like) potential, including one-loop radiative corrections. A radiatively corrected version of these models is entirely consistent with Planck's data. By adding non-canonical kinetic energy term in the lagrangian, the inflation experiences a period of ultra-slow-roll, and the amplitude of primordial power spectrum is enhanced to O(10−2). The enhanced power spectra of primordial curvature perturbations can have both sharp and broad peaks. A wide mass range of PBHs is realized in our model with the frequencies of scalar induced gravitational waves ranged from nHz to kHz. We present several benchmark points where the PBH mass generated during inflation is around (1−100)M⊙, (10−9−10−7)M⊙ and (10−16−10−11)M⊙. The PBHs can make up most of the dark matter with masses around (10−16−10−11)M⊙ and (1−100)M⊙, and their associated SIGWs can be probed by the upcoming ground and space-based gravitational wave (GW) observatories. The evidence of stochastic process recently reported by NANOGrav may be interpreted as SIGWs associated with the formation of PBHs. These SIGWs may also be tested by future interferometer-type GW observations of SKA, DECIGO, LISA, BBO, TaiJi, TianQin, CE and ET.