The case for primordial black holes as dark matter
M.R.S. Hawkins

TL;DR
This paper argues that stellar mass primordial black holes are a viable dark matter candidate, supported by microlensing observations and reanalysis of existing data, suggesting they could account for the Universe's dark matter.
Contribution
It provides new evidence and reanalysis showing primordial black holes formed during the QCD epoch could constitute dark matter, challenging previous objections.
Findings
Microlensing signatures are consistent with stellar mass primordial black holes.
Reanalysis shows no conflict with Magellanic Clouds microlensing observations.
Primordial black holes are plausible dark matter candidates alongside elementary particles.
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present the case that stellar mass primordial black holes make up the dark matter component of the Universe. A near critical density of compact bodies implies that most lines of sight will be gravitationally microlensed, and the paper focuses on looking for the predicted effects on quasar brightness and spectral variations. These signatures of microlensing include the shape of the Fourier power spectrum of the light curves, near achromatic and statistically symmetric variations, and the absence of time dilation in the timescale of variability. For spectral changes, as the continuum varies there should be little corresponding change in the strength of the broad lines. In all these cases, the observations are found to be consistent with the predictions for microlensing by a population of stellar mass compact bodies. For multiply lensed quasars where the images…
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