Decoding the Physics of the Early Universe Through Primordial Black Holes, Dark Matter and GWs

Explore a comprehensive physics lecture that delves into the complex mechanisms of early universe reheating through primordial black holes (PBHs) and their connection to dark matter and gravitational waves. Learn about standard reheating scenarios and discover how PBH evaporation contributes to universe reheating through two distinct pathways - either via thermal bath creation or through PBH energy dominance. Examine the effects of different PBH mass functions and their parameter ranges, while understanding how PBH evaporation relates to dark matter production. Investigate the role of primordial gravitational waves and scalar-induced secondary gravitational waves in decoding early universe physics, with particular attention to recent stochastic gravitational wave background detections by pulsar timing arrays. Gain insights into quantum corrections affecting Hawking radiation in ultra-light PBHs and their observable implications for dark matter and gravitational waves.