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Heavy QCD axion dark matter from avoided level crossing

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arxiv 2306.04678 v2 pith:VDQDVL3Y submitted 2023-06-07 hep-ph astro-ph.CO

classification hep-phastro-ph.CO
keywords axiondarkmattermodelsavoidedcrossinglevelmasses
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal
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abstract

The QCD axion offers a natural resolution to the strong CP problem and provides a compelling dark matter candidate. If the QCD axion constitutes all the dark matter, the simplest models pick out a narrow range of masses around $100\,\mu{\rm eV}$. We point out a natural production mechanism for QCD axion dark matter at masses up to existing astrophysical bounds (${\scr O}(20 \, \mathrm{meV})$ for the most minimal models and ${\scr O}(1 \, \mathrm{eV})$ for nucleophobic models). If the QCD axion mixes with a sterile axion, the relative temperature dependence of their potentials can lead to an avoided level crossing of their mass eigenstates. This leads to a near-total transfer of energy density from the sterile axion to the QCD axion, resulting in a late-time QCD axion abundance sufficient to make up all of present-day dark matter. Our result provides additional theoretical motivation for several direct detection experiments that will probe this part of parameter space in the near future.

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Forward citations

Cited by 7 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. The structure of multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem

    hep-ph 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 6.0 of 10

    Multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem produce varied mass-coupling patterns set by PQ symmetry breaking structure and QCD-EM anomaly alignment, summarized by a general sum rule for N-axion systems.

  2. The structure of multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem

    hep-ph 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 6.0 of 10

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  3. Axiverse Lampposts

    hep-ph 2026-02 conditional novelty 6.0 of 10

    In a hierarchical multi-axion theory with random couplings, axion field ranges shrink with 1/sqrt(N), generic axion–SM couplings are suppressed, but the QCD axion's coupling is unsuppressed.

  4. Sign-Flipping Axion Potentials via Kapitza-Type Modulation by Heavy Axions

    hep-ph 2025-09 accept novelty 6.0 of 10

    Coherent oscillations of a heavy axion change the sign of a light axion's effective potential, trapping it in a false vacuum and boosting its dark matter abundance.

  5. Hierarchical Axiverse

    hep-ph 2026-08 reject novelty 5.0 of 10

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  6. Stochastic Axion Mixing: A General Mechanism Beyond Decay Constant Constraints

    hep-ph 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 5.0 of 10

    Stochastic axion mixing is a broad mechanism for axion interactions in multi-axion systems that occurs naturally under distinct mass conditions and does not depend on decay constant hierarchies.

  7. Completing Axion Double Level Crossings

    hep-ph 2025-08 unverdicted novelty 5.0 of 10

    Double level crossings are common in multi-axion mass mixing of Z_N axions and ALPs, occurring multiple times for large N in the light axion case but prevented by excessively large or small N in light and heavy scenar...

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