Self-interacting dark matter from primordial black holes

The evaporation of primordial black holes (PBH) with masses ranging from similar to 10(-1) to similar to 10(9) g could have generated the whole observed dark matter (DM) relic density. It is typically assumed that after being produced, its abundance freezes and remains constant. However, thermalization and number-changing processes in the dark sector can have a strong impact, in particular enhancing the DM population by several orders of magnitude. Here we estimate the boost from general arguments such as the conservation of energy and entropy, independently from the underlying particle physics details of the dark sector. Two main consequences can be highlighted: i) As the DM abundance is increased, a smaller initial energy density of PBHs is required. ii) Thermalization in the dark sector decreases the mean DM kinetic energy, relaxing the bound from structure formation and hence, allowing light DM with mass in the keV ballpark.

Automated summary

It is suggested that the evaporation of primordial black holes may have generated the entire observed dark matter density, with thermalization and number-changing processes in the dark sector playing a significant role in boosting the dark matter population. This independent estimation based on conservation principles points to potential implications including reduced initial energy density requirements for primordial black holes and relaxation of constraints on dark matter kinetic energy.