Enhanced exploration for primordial black holes using pulsar timing arrays (1208.4101v1)

Abstract: We investigate the capability of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) as a probe of primordial black holes (PBHs), which might constitute the Galactic dark matter. A PBH passing nearby the Earth or a pulsar gives an impulse acceleration and induces residuals on otherwise orderly pulsar timing data. We show that the timing residuals induced at pulsars are optimal for searching heavier PBHs than those at the Earth, and the two probes are highly complemental. Future facilities like SKA could detect PBHs with masses around 10^22-28 g even if only a small fraction (< 1%) of the Galactic dark matter consists of these PBHs.