GW190521 Mass Gap Event and the Primordial Black Hole Scenario

V. De Luca, Vincent Desjacques, G. Franciolini, P. Pani, A. Riotto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The LIGO/Virgo Collaboration has recently observed GW190521, the first binary black hole merger with at least the primary component mass in the mass gap predicted by the pair-instability supernova theory. This observation disfavors the standard stellar-origin formation scenario for the heavier black hole, motivating alternative hypotheses. We show that GW190521 cannot be explained within the primordial black hole (PBH) scenario if PBHs do not accrete during their cosmological evolution, since this would require an abundance which is already in tension with current constraints. On the other hand, GW190521 may have a primordial origin if PBHs accrete efficiently before the reionization epoch.

Original languageEnglish
Article number051101
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume126
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Feb 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'GW190521 Mass Gap Event and the Primordial Black Hole Scenario'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this