Discovery of exotic black holes predicted

Scientists have predicted that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be able to detect an exotic class of light black holes – hypothetical objects that have not yet been discovered. About it reported in a paper published in the journal Physical Review D.

It is believed that primordial black holes were formed as a result of the collapse of dense clumps of matter moments after the Big Bang. At the time of its birth, the Universe experienced a short but intense phase known as inflation, when space expanded faster than the speed of light. Under these special conditions, regions that were denser than their surroundings could collapse, forming primordial low-mass black holes.

Although models show that the smallest black holes should evaporate before the universe reaches its current age, those with masses similar to Earth’s may still exist.

Finding primordial black holes would reveal more about the very early Universe and allow us to say with great confidence that an early period of inflation actually occurred. These objects may also make up some percentage of dark matter.