No Arabic abstract
In the context of transient constant-roll inflation near a local maximum, we derive the non-perturbative field redefinition that relates a Gaussian random field with the true non-Gaussian curvature perturbation. Our analysis shows the emergence of a new critical amplitude $zeta_*$, corresponding to perturbations that prevent the inflaton from overshooting the local maximum, thus becoming trapped in the false minimum of the potential. For potentials with a mild curvature at the local maximum (and thus small non-Gaussianity), we recover the known perturbative field redefinition. We apply these results to the formation of primordial black holes, and discuss the cases for which $zeta_*$ is smaller or of the same order than the critical value for collapse of spherically symmetric overdensities. In the latter case, we present a simple potential for which the power spectrum needs an amplitude 10 times smaller that in the Gaussian case for producing a sizeable amount of primordial black holes.
This paper explores the consequences of non-Gaussian cosmological perturbations for the formation of primordial black holes (PBHs). A non-Gaussian probability distribution function (PDF) of curvature perturbations is presented with an explicit contribution from the three-point correlation function to linear order. The consequences of this non-Gaussian PDF for the large perturbations that form PBHs are then studied. Using the observational limits for the non-Gaussian parameter $f_{NL}$, new bounds to the mean amplitude of curvature perturbations are derived in the range of scales relevant for PBH formation.
We study the formation of black holes from subhorizon and superhorizon perturbations in a matter dominated universe with 3+1D numerical relativity simulations. We find that there are two primary mechanisms of formation depending on the initial perturbations mass and geometry -- via $textit{direct collapse}$ of the initial overdensity and via $textit{post-collapse accretion}$ of the ambient dark matter. In particular, for the latter case, the initial perturbation does not have to satisfy the hoop conjecture for a black hole to form. In both cases, the duration of the formation the process is around a Hubble time, and the initial mass of the black hole is $M_mathrm{BH} sim 10^{-2} H^{-1} M_mathrm{Pl}^2$. Post formation, we find that the PBH undergoes rapid mass growth beyond the self-similar limit $M_mathrm{BH}propto H^{-1}$, at least initially. We argue that this implies that most of the final mass of the PBH is accreted from its ambient surroundings post formation.
Primordial black holes (PBHs) have long been suggested as a candidate for making up some or all of the dark matter in the Universe. Most of the theoretically possible mass range for PBH dark matter has been ruled out with various null observations of expected signatures of their interaction with standard astrophysical objects. However, current constraints are significantly less robust in the 20 M_sun < M_PBH < 100 M_sun mass window, which has received much attention recently, following the detection of merging black holes with estimated masses of ~30 M_sun by LIGO and the suggestion that these could be black holes formed in the early Universe. We consider the potential of advanced LIGO (aLIGO) operating at design sensitivity to probe this mass range by looking for peaks in the mass spectrum of detected events. To quantify the background, which is due to black holes that are formed from dying stars, we model the shape of the stellar-black-hole mass function and calibrate its amplitude to match the O1 results. Adopting very conservative assumptions about the PBH and stellar-black-hole merger rates, we show that ~5 years of aLIGO data can be used to detect a contribution of >20 M_sun PBHs to dark matter down to f_PBH<0.5 at >99.9% confidence level. Combined with other probes that already suggest tension with f_PBH=1, the obtainable independent limits from aLIGO will thus enable a firm test of the scenario that PBHs make up all of dark matter.
We re-analyse current single-field inflationary models related to primordial black holes formation. We do so by taking into account recent developments on the estimations of their abundances and the influence of non-gaussianities. We show that, for all of them, the gaussian approximation, which is typically used to estimate the primordial black holes abundances, fails. However, in the case in which the inflaton potential has an inflection point, the contribution of non-gaussianities is only perturbative. Finally, we infer that only models featuring an inflection point in the inflationary potential, might predict, with a very good approximation, the desired abundances by the sole use of the gaussian statistics.
The formation and abundance of primordial black holes (PBHs) arising from the curvature perturbation $zeta$ is studied. The non-linear relation between $zeta$ and the density contrast $delta$ means that, even when $zeta$ has an exactly Gaussian distribution, significant non-Gaussianities affecting PBH formation must be considered. Numerical simulations are used to investigate the critical value and the mass of PBHs which form, and peaks theory is used to calculate the mass fraction of the universe collapsing to form PBHs at the time of formation. A formalism to calculate the total present day PBH abundance and mass function is also derived. It is found that the abundance of PBHs is very sensitive to the non-linear effects, and that the power spectrum $mathcal{P}_zeta$ must be a factor of $sim2$ larger to produce the same number of PBHs as the linear model (where the exact value depends on the critical value for a region to collapse and form a PBH). This also means that the derived constraints on the small-scale power spectrum from constraints on the abundance of PBHs are weaker by the same factor.