Constraints on the primordial curvature perturbation from primordial black holes

Abstract

We calculate the constraints on the primordial curvature perturbation at the end of inflation from the present day abundance of Primordial Black Holes (PBHs), as a function of the reheat temperature T_{\rm RH}. We first extend recent work on the formation of PBHs on scales which remain within the horizon during inflation and calculate the resulting constraints on the curvature perturbation. We then evaluate the constraint from PBHs that form, more conventionally, from super-horizon perturbations. The constraints apply for T_{\rm RH} < 10^{8} GeV and the inclusion of sub-horizon PBHs leads to a limit which is roughly three times tighter than the bound from super-horizon PBHs.

8 pages, 2 figures, version to appear in JCAP, minor changes