Do primordial black holes exist

In summary, a PBH is a type of black hole formed by extreme density during the universe's early expansion, rather than the collapse of a star. There are two theories proposing PBHs as dark matter, with one suggesting they are in the mass range of 1017 g to 1026 g and the other proposing they are larger, about 30 times the mass of the sun. One potential way to detect PBHs is through Hawking radiation, but this is only possible if they are small enough and if the radiation exists. Recent observational constraints suggest that PBHs may not be a dominant contributor to the dark matter budget, but their existence is not ruled out entirely.
  • #1
wolram
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A PBH is a hypothetical type of black hole that is formed not by the gravitational collapse of a large star but by the extreme density of matter present during the universe's early expansion.

It has been proposed that dark mater is made up of primordial black holes. One theory proposes that they are in the mass range of 1017 g to 1026 g, based on the expectation that at this low mass they would behave as expected of other particle candidates for dark matter. They would be within the typical mass range of asteroids. Another theory is that dark matter consists of larger black holes, about 30 times the mass of the sun (about 6 × 1034 g).
One way to detect primordial black holes is by Hawking radiation, if they are small enough to radiate, and if Hawking radiation exists, otherwise they will be extremely difficult to detect.
 
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  • #2
Have you tried a forum search? There have been numerous discussions of this.
 
  • #3
A recent summary of observational constraints on PBH abundance is discussed here; https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.06077, Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter. The more reliable constraints are deduced from the diffuse gamma ray background and micro lensing surveys. These tend only to rule out the possibility that PBH's can significantly contribute to the DM inventory, not their existence in general. While gamma ray background constraints are vulnerable to the unproven assumption we have correctly quantified contributions due to Hawking radiation, it is considered well founded in theory. Microlensing constraints are more robust. It is virtually unreasonable to suspect any dubious assumptions might affect lensing surveys. There is also supporting evidence in forms including BBN [big bang nucleosynthesis], CMB and dynamical constraints. The long and short of it is current evidence for PBH's as a dominant contributor to the DM budget is, at best, inconclusive
 
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1. What are primordial black holes?

Primordial black holes are hypothesized to be small black holes that formed in the early universe, shortly after the Big Bang. They are thought to have formed from the extreme density and gravitational collapse of regions of the universe that were more dense than others.

2. How are primordial black holes different from other black holes?

Primordial black holes are significantly smaller than other black holes, with masses ranging from a fraction of a gram to several times the mass of the sun. They also formed much earlier in the universe's history, whereas other black holes are thought to form from the collapse of massive stars.

3. How do we detect primordial black holes?

Primordial black holes are difficult to detect, as they do not emit any light or radiation. However, scientists are currently searching for them through gravitational lensing, where the gravity of a black hole bends and magnifies the light from objects behind it, and through their effects on the cosmic microwave background radiation.

4. Do primordial black holes pose any danger to Earth?

No, primordial black holes do not pose any danger to Earth. Even if they were to pass through our solar system, they would be too small to cause any significant gravitational effects. Additionally, they are thought to be very rare and are not expected to be found in close proximity to our planet.

5. What is the current scientific consensus on the existence of primordial black holes?

The existence of primordial black holes is still a topic of debate among scientists. While there is some evidence supporting their existence, such as the recent detection of gravitational waves from a potential primordial black hole merger, there is not yet enough conclusive evidence to confirm their existence. Further research and observations are needed to better understand the nature and prevalence of primordial black holes.

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