Passive Curvaton

We propose a class of curvaton models which we call passive curvaton. In this paper, two kinds of passive curvaton is considered. The first one is a pseudoscalar curvaton couples to a gauge field. Different from the inflaton case, the constraint from formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) is much weaker and large non-gaussianity (of the equiliteral type) can be produced. The second model is a dilaton-like scalar curvaton couples to a gauge field. We investigate the scale dependence of non-gaussianity in this model. In both models, the spectrum and non-Gaussianity are enhanced by the slow-roll parameter of the curvaton field. Other possible passive curvaton models are also mentioned.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, to appear in PL

Primordial Black Holes from Passive Density Fluctuations

In this paper, we show that if passive fluctuations are considered, primordial black holes (PBHs) can be easily produced in the framework of single-field, slow-roll inflation models. The formation of PBHs is due to the blue spectrum of passive fluctuations and an enhancement of the spectral range which exits horizon near the end of inflation. Therefore the PBHs are light with masses $\lesssim 10^{15}g$ depending on the number of e-folds when the scale of our observable universe leaves horizon. These PBHs are likely to have evaporated and cannot be a candidate for dark matter but they may still affect the early universe.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Physics Letters