Understanding constraints on primordial mass black holes made of dark matter using fast radio bursts

Abstract

In recent decades, a multitude of modified gravity theories have been proposed to address a variety of cosmological and astrophysical problems. While many of these theories remain viable, observational constraints on their parameters are increasingly stringent. Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), in particular, have emerged as powerful probes of cosmology and fundamental physics. This study investigates the implications of a generic modified gravity theory for gravitational lensing by FRBs. By analyzing the dataset of CHIME/FRBs, we constrain the fraction of dark matter composed of primordial black holes within this theoretical framework. Furthermore, we demonstrate that modified gravity introduces a screening effect on gravitational lensing, analogous to the scattering effect of plasma on light rays.

3 pages with 1 figure; based on poster in IAU XXXII General Assembly, August 2024, Cape Town