Speaker
Description
Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) are fascinating astrophysical objects that could provide valuable insights into the early universe, cosmology, and gravitational physics.
The standard formation scenario assumes that PBHs originate from the gravitational collapse of large curvature fluctuations generated during inflation. These same large scalar fluctuations, which can lead to PBH formation upon horizon re-entry, also produce a background of scalar-induced gravitational waves (SIGWs) as a second-order effect.
This presentation focuses on calculating the abundance of PBHs and the associated SIGWs, which can be detected through pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) and, in the future, by LISA. A key aspect of the discussion will be the methodologies and uncertainties involved in these calculations, emphasizing recent advancements and outstanding challenges.
