B. J. Carr

New cosmological constraints on primordial black holes

We update the constraints on the fraction of the Universe going into primordial black holes in the mass range 10{sup 9}-10{sup 17} g associated with the effects of their evaporations on big bang nucleosynthesis and the extragalactic photon background. We include for the first time all the effects of quark and gluon emission by black holes on these constraints and account for the latest observational developments. We then discuss the other constraints in this mass range and show that these are weaker than the nucleosynthesis and photon background limits, apart from a small range 10{sup 13}-10{sup 14} g, where the damping of cosmic microwave background anisotropies dominates. Finally we review the gravitational and astrophysical effects of nonevaporating primordial black holes, updating constraints over the broader mass range 1-10{sup 50} g.

The primordial black hole mass spectrum

We examine what mass spectrum of primordial black holes should result if the early universe consisted of small density fluctuations superposed on a Friedmann background. It is shown that only a certain type of fluctuation favors the formation of primordial black holes and that, consequently, their spectrum should always have a particular form. Since both the fluctuations which arise naturally and the fluctuations which are often invoked to explain galaxy formation are of the required type, primordial black holes could have had an important effect on the evolution of the universe. In particular, although primordial black holes are unlikely to have a critical density, big one could have been sufficiently numerous to act as condensation nuclei for galaxies. Observational limits on the spectrum of primordial black holes place strong constraints on the magnitude of density fluctuations in the early universe and support the assumption that the early universe was nearly Friedmann rather than chaotic. Any model in which the early universe has a soft equation of state for a prolonged period is shown to be suspsect, since primordial black holes probably form too prolifically in such a situation to be consistent with observation. (AIP)

Universe or multiverse

Bernard Carr and George Ellis present their differing views on whether speculations about other universes are part of legitimate science.

The Evolution and fate of Very Massive Objects

The structure and evolution of Very Massive Objects (stars of mass approx.10/sup 2/-10/sup 5/ M/sub sun/) are discussed in terms of simple semianalytic models. We estimate the helium enrichment due to mass loss, and present evidence for a dynamical instability arising in the hydrogen shell burning phase of a 500 M/sub sun/ Population I star. The fate of a VMO is decided in its oxygen core phase, Calculations of the effects of the pair instability, oxygen and silicon burning, and alpha-quenching on the global binding energy of initially isentropic polytropic cores allow us to predict the critical oxygen core mass above which complete collapse to a black hole occurs: M/sub O//sub c/roughly-equal10/sup 2/ M/sub sun/ corresponding to an initial star mass greater than 200 M/sub sun/. Cores smaller than this explode; we estimate the kinetic energy liberated.

The anthropic principle and the structure of the physical world

The basic features of galaxies, stars, planets and the everyday world are essentially determined by a few microphysical constants and by the effects of gravitation. Many interrelations between different scales that at first sight seem surprising are straightforward consequences of simple physical arguments. But several aspects of our Universe—some of which seem to be prerequisites for the evolution of any form of life—depend rather delicately on apparent ‘coincidences’ among the physical constants.

Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter

The possibility that the dark matter comprises primordial black holes (PBHs) is considered, with particular emphasis on the currently allowed mass windows at 10(16)-10(17) g, 10(20)-10(24) g and 1- ...

The state space and physical interpretation of self-similar spherically symmetric perfect-fluid models

The purpose of this paper is to further investigate the solution space of self-similar spherically symmetric perfect-fluid models and gain a deeper understanding of the physical aspects of these solutions. We achieve this by combining the state space description of the homothetic approach with the use of the physically interesting quantities arising in the comoving approach. We focus on three types of models. First, we consider models that are natural inhomogeneous generalizations of the Friedmann universe; such models are asymptotically Friedmann in their past and evolve fluctuations in the energy density at later times. Secondly, we consider so-called quasi-static models. This class includes models that undergo self-similar gravitational collapse and is important for studying the formation of naked singularities. If naked singularities do form, they have profound implications for the predictability of general relativity as a theory. Thirdly, we consider a new class of asymptotically Minkowski self-similar spacetimes, emphasizing that some of them are associated with the self-similar solutions associated with the critical behaviour observed in recent gravitational collapse calculations.

Black hole relics and inflation: Limits on blue perturbation spectra

Blue primordial power spectra have spectral index [ital n][gt]1 and arise naturally in the recently proposed hybrid inflationary scenario. An observational upper limit on [ital n] is derived by normalizing the spectrum at the quadrupole scale and considering the possible overproduction of Planck mass relics formed in the final stage of primordial black hole evaporation. In the inflationary Universe with the maximum reheating temperature compatible with the observed quadrupole anisotropy, the upper limit is [ital n]=1.4, but it is slightly weaker for lower reheat temperatures. This limit applies over 57 decades of mass and is therefore insensitive to cosmic variance and any gravitational wave contribution to the quadrupole anisotropy. It is also independent of the dark matter content of the Universe and therefore the bias parameter. In some circumstances, there may be an extended dustlike phase between the end of inflation and reheating. In this case, primordial black holes form more abundantly and the upper limit is [ital n]=1.3.

Cosmic rays from primordial black holes

The quark and gluon emission from primordial black holes (PBHs) which may have formed from initial density perturbations or phase transitions in the early universe are investigated. If the PBHs formed from scale-invariant initial density perturbations in the radiation dominated era, it is found that the emission can explain or contribute significantly to the extragalactic photon and interstellar cosmic-ray electron, positron, and antiproton spectra around 0.1{minus}1 GeV. In particular, the PBH emission strongly resembles the cosmic-ray gamma-ray spectrum between 50 and 170 MeV. The upper limits on the PBH density today from the gamma-ray, e(+), e({minus}), and antiproton data are comparable, provided that the PBHs cluster to the same degree as the other matter in the Galactic halo. 130 refs.

Classical novae from the POINT-AGAPE microlensing survey of M31 : II. Rate and statistical characteristics of the nova population

The POINT-AGAPE (Pixel-lensing Observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope- Andromeda Galaxy Amplified Pixels Experiment) survey is an optical search for gravitational microlensing events towards the Andromeda galaxy (M31). As well as microlensing, the survey is sensitive to many different classes of variable stars and transients. In our first paper of this series, we reported the detection of 20 classical novae (CNe) observed in Sloan rand i � passbands. An analysis of the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline (MMRD) relationship in M31 is performed using the resulting POINT-AGAPE CN catalogue. Within the limits of the uncertainties of extinction internal to M31, good fits are produced to the MMRD in two filters. The MMRD calibration is the first to be performed for Sloan rand ifilters. However, we are unable to verify that novae have the same absolute magnitude 15 d after peak (the t15 relationship), nor any similar relationship for either Sloan filter. The subsequent analysis of the automated pipeline has provided us with the most thorough knowledge of the completeness of a CN survey to date. In addition, the large field of view of the survey has permitted us to probe the outburst rate well into the galactic disc, unlike previous CCD imaging surveys. Using this analysis, we are able to probe the CN distribution of M31 and evaluate the global nova rate. Using models of the galactic surface brightness of M31, we show that the observed CN distribution consists of a separate bulge and disc population. We also show that the M31 bulge CN eruption rate per unit rflux is more than five times greater