PIRSA:21110044

Friendship in the Axiverse

Cyncynates, D. (2021). Friendship in the Axiverse . Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/21110044

Cyncynates, David. Friendship in the Axiverse . Perimeter Institute, Nov. 30, 2021, https://pirsa.org/21110044 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:21110044,
            doi = {10.48660/21110044},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/21110044},
            author = {Cyncynates, David},
            keywords = {Particle Physics},
            language = {en},
            title = {Friendship in the Axiverse },
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2021},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:21110044 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

David Cyncynates University of Washington

DOI 10.48660/21110044
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

A generic low-energy prediction of string theory is the existence of a large collection of axions, commonly known as a string axiverse. String axions can be distributed over many orders of magnitude in mass, and are expected to interact with one another through their joint potential. In this talk, I will show how non-linearities in this potential lead to a new type of resonant energy transfer between axions with nearby masses. This resonance generically transfers energy from axions with larger decay constants to those with smaller decay constants, leading to a multitude of signatures. These include enhanced direct detection prospects for a resonant pair comprising even a small subcomponent of dark matter, and boosted small-scale structure if the pair is the majority of DM. Near-future iterations of experiments such as ADMX and DM Radio will be sensitive to this scenario, as will astrophysical probes of DM substructure.