Abstract
We present new limits on the allowed masses of a dark matter (DM) halo consisting of primordial black holes (PBH) (or any other massive compact halo object). We analyze two years of data from the Kepler satellite, searching for short-duration bumps caused by gravitational microlensing. After removing background events consisting of variable stars, flare events, and comets or asteroids moving through the Kepler field, we find no microlensing candidates. We measure the efficiency of our selection criteria by adding millions of simulated microlensing lensing events into the Kepler light curves. We find that PBH DM with masses in the range to cannot make up the entirety of the DM in the Milky Way. At the low-mass end, this decreases the allowed mass range by more than an order of magnititude.
- Received 12 July 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.181302
© 2013 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Planet Search Finds No Dark Matter Black Holes
Published 31 October 2013
Using data from a planet-hunting mission, scientists place new limits on a supposed population of black holes that could act as dark matter.
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