Primordial black hole formation in k-inflation models

TL;DR

This paper investigates how primordial black holes could form during k-inflation, focusing on models with an inflection point, and calculates their expected abundance using numerical methods.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed numerical analysis of PBH formation in k-essence inflation models with inflection points, advancing understanding of PBH production mechanisms.

Findings

Primordial black holes can form in k-inflation models with inflection points.

The abundance of PBHs is computed using critical collapse and peaks formalism.

Results suggest conditions under which PBHs could account for dark matter.

Abstract

The local primordial density fluctuations caused by quantum vacuum fluctuations during inflation grow into stars and galaxies in the late universe and, if they are large enough, also produce primordial black holes. We study the formation of the primordial black holes in $k$-essence inflation models with a potential characterized by an inflection point. The background and perturbation equations are integrated numerically for two specific models. Using the critical collapse and peaks formalism, we calculate the abundance of primordial black holes today.