Non-particle dark matter

Abstract

We provide a pedagogical introduction to non-particle dark matter, focused on primordial black holes (PBHs), black holes that may form in the early Universe from large overdensities. First, we outline the key properties of PBHs and how they meet the requirements to be a dark matter candidate. We then overview how PBHs can form, in particular from the collapse of large density perturbations generated by inflation (a proposed period of accelerated expansion in the early Universe). Next, we describe how PBHs can be probed by observations. Finally, we conclude with a summary focused on the key open questions in the field.

13 pages, 6 figures. This is a pre-print of a chapter for the Encyclopedia of Particle Physics (edited by C. Fischer, section editor V. Sanz) to be published by Elsevier as a Reference Module