Primordial Black Hole Formation in Non-Standard Post-Inflationary Epochs

Abstract: When large overdensities gravitationally collapse in the early universe, they lead to primordial black holes (PBH). Depending on the exact model of inflation leading to necessary large perturbations at scales much smaller than scales probed at the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) surveys, PBHs of masses $\lesssim$$10^3 M_{\odot}$ can be formed sometime between the end of inflation and nucleosynthesis. However, the lack of a direct probe for the exact expansion history of the universe in this duration introduces uncertainties in the PBH formation process. The presence of alternate cosmological evolution for some duration after inflation affects the relation between (i) PBH mass and the scale of the collapsing overdensity; and (ii) PBH abundance and amplitude of the overdensities. In this review, the non-standard cosmological epochs relevant for a difference in PBH production are motivated and discussed. The importance of developing the framework of PBH formation in non-standard epochs is discussed from a phenomenological point of view, with particular emphasis on the advances in gravitational wave (GW) phenomenology, since abundant PBHs are always accompanied by large induced GWs. PBH formation in general non-standard epochs is also reviewed including the mathematical formalism. Specific examples, such as PBH formation in a kinetic energy dominated epoch and an early matter dominated epoch, are discussed with figures showing higher PBH abundances as compared to the production in standard radiation domination.