New physics and the black hole mass gap
We demonstrate the power of the black hole mass gap as a novel probe of fundamental physics. New light particles that couple to the Standard Model can act as an additional source of energy loss in the cores of population-III stars, dramatically altering their evolution. We investigate the effects of two paradigmatic weakly coupled, low-mass particles, axions and hidden photons, and find that the pulsational pair instability, which causes a substantial amount of mass loss, is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to form black holes of $72$ $${\rm M}_\odot$$ or heavier, deep inside the black hole mass gap predicted by the Standard Model. The upper edge of the mass gap is raised to $>130$ $${\rm M}_\odot$$, implying that heavier black holes, anticipated to be observed after LIGO's sensitivity is upgraded, would also be impacted. In contrast, thermally produced heavy particles would remain in the core, leading to the tantalizing possibility that they drive a new instability akin to the electron-positron pair instability. We investigate this effect analytically and find that stars that avoid the electron-positron pair instability could experience this new instability. We discuss our results in light of current and upcoming gravitational wave interferometer detections of binary black hole mergers.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1659459
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-20-328-T; arXiv:2007.07889; oai:inspirehep.net:1807478
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review D, Vol. 102, Issue 11; ISSN 2470-0010
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Missing in axion: Where are XENON1T’s big black holes?
Filling the black hole mass gap: Avoiding pair instability in massive stars through addition of nonnuclear energy