Primordial black hole mass functions as a probe of cosmic origin

Journal Article · 11 April 2024 · Science China. Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-023-2314-1 · OSTI ID:2338309

Cai, Yi-Fu ^[1]; Tang, Chengfeng ^[2]; Mo, Geyu ^[2]; Yan, Sheng-Feng ^[3]; Chen, Chao ^[4]; Ma, Xiao-Han ^[2]; Wang, Bo ^[2]; Luo, Wentao ^[2]; Easson, Damien A. ^[5]; Marcianò, Antonino ^[6]

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1. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China); Arizona State University
2. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China)
3. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Milano (Italy); University of Insubria (Italy); Univ. of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu (China)
4. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (Hong Kong)
5. Amtech Systems, Inc., Tempe, AZ (United States)
6. Fudan Univ., Shanghai (China); National Inst. of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Frascati (Italy). National Lab. of Frascati (INFN-LNF); INFN Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)

Here, we discuss a novel window to probe the origin of our universe via the mass functions of primordial black holes (PBHs). The mass functions of PBHs are simply estimated using the conventional Press-Schechter formalism for two paradigms of cosmic origin, including inflationary ΛCDM and bounce cosmology. The standard inflationary ΛCDM model cannot generate an appreciable number of massive PBHs; however, non-trivial inflation models with blue-tilted power spectra at small scales and matter bounce cosmology provide formation mechanisms for heavy PBHs, which in turn, may seed the observed supermassive black holes (SMBHs). By fitting the SMBH mass functions at high redshift (z ~ 6) derived from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS) quasars, for two paradigms of cosmic origin, we derive constraints on the PBH density fraction $$f$$_PBH at z ~ 6 and the characteristic mass M_$$\ast$$, with the prior assumption that all SMBHs stem from PBHs. We demonstrate that this newly proposed procedure, relying on astronomical measurements that utilize deep-field surveys of SMBHs at high redshift, can be used to constrain models of cosmic origin. Additionally, although not the main focus of this paper, we evolve the mass function from z ~ 6 to z ~ 0 through an assumption of 3 × 10⁸-year Eddington’s accretion, and give a rough estimation of $$f$$_PBH at z ~ 0.

• Research Organization: Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0019470
• OSTI ID: 2338309
• Journal Information: Science China. Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, Journal Name: Science China. Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 67; ISSN 1674-7348
• Publisher: Science China Press and SpringerCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English