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Accurate model for the primordial black hole mass distribution from a peak in the power spectrum

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posted on 2023-06-10, 02:26 authored by Andrew Gow, Christian ByrnesChristian Byrnes, Alex Hall
We examine the shape of the primordial black hole mass distribution arising from a peak in the primordial power spectrum. In light of improvements to the modeling, we revisit the claim that the effects of critical collapse produce a distribution that is not described by the commonly assumed lognormal, showing that this conclusion remains valid, particularly for narrow peaks where the shape of the mass distribution is insensitive to the peak properties and critical collapse determines a minimum width. We propose some alternative models that may better describe the shape, both for the narrow peak case and for much broader peaks where the effect of the peak shape is significant. We highlight the skew-lognormal and a generalized model motivated by the physics of critical collapse as the best of these possible alternatives. These models can be used as an accurate and fast approximation to the numerically calculated mass distribution, allowing for efficient implementation in an MCMC analysis. We advocate the use of one of these two models instead of the lognormal with sufficiently accurate data, such as future LIGO–Virgo observations, or when considering strongly mass dependent constraints on the PBH abundance.

Funding

University of Sussex Astronomy Consolidated Grant 2017-2020; G2050; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/P000525/1

Primordial black holes, dark matter and inflation; G2281; ROYAL SOCIETY; RGF/EA/180008

University of Sussex Astronomy Consolidated Grant 2020-2023; G2954; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/T000473/1

Reaching a qualitatively new understanding of the post-Planck universe; G1935; ROYAL SOCIETY; UF150683

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Physical Review D

ISSN

2470-0010

Publisher

American Physical Society

Issue

2

Volume

105

Article number

a023503

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-01-25

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-01-25

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-01-24

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