Inflationary axion cosmology

Journal Article · Sun Jan 06 19:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.5· OSTI ID:6099352

Turner, M S ^[1]; Wilczek, F ^[2]

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1. NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510-0500 an (US) Departments of Physics and Astronomy Astrophysics, Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (USA)
2. Institute for Advanced Study, School of Natural Sciences, Princeton, New Jersey (USA)

If Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry is broken after inflation, the initial axion angle is a random variable on cosmological scales; based on this fact, estimates of the relic-axion mass density give too large a value if the axion mass is less than about 10{sup {minus}6} eV. This bound can be evaded if the Universe underwent inflation after PQ symmetry breaking and if the observable Universe happens to be a region where the initial axion angle was atypically small, {theta}{sub 1}{approx lt}({ital m}{sub {ital a}}/10{sup {minus}6} eV{sup 0.59}.) We show consideration of fluctuations induced during inflation severely constrains the latter alternative.

• OSTI ID: 6099352
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 66:1; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
645103 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental-- Strong Interactions & Baryon & Meson Properties
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AXIONS
BOSONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
COSMOLOGY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FIELD THEORIES
GOLDSTONE BOSONS
INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
LIMITING VALUES
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SCALAR FIELDS
SYMMETRY BREAKING