Detailed Calculation of Primordial Black Hole Formation During First-Order Cosmological Phase Transitions

Abstract: We recently presented a new mechanism for primordial black hole formation during a first-order phase transition in the early Universe, which relies on the build-up of particles which are predominantly reflected from the advancing bubble wall. In this companion paper we provide details of the supporting numerical calculations. After describing the general mechanism, we discuss the criteria that need to be satisfied for a black hole to form. We then set out the Boltzmann equation that describes the evolution of the relevant phase space distribution function, carefully describing our treatment of the Liouville operator and the collision term. Finally, we show that black holes will form for a wide range of parameters.