Enhanced early galaxy formation in JWST from axion dark matter?

Journal Article · 09 October 2024 · Physics Letters. B

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2024.139062 · OSTI ID:2466239

Bird, Simeon ^[1]; Chang, Chia-Feng ^[1]; Cui, Yanou ^[1]; Yang, Daneng  ^[1]

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1. University of California, Riverside, CA (United States)

We demonstrate that enhanced early galaxy formation can generically arise in axion-like particle (ALP) dark matter (DM) models with a delayed onset of axion field oscillation. In these models, the formation of localized massive objects enhances structure formation, potentially addressing the excess recently observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), while remaining consistent with existing constraints. We identify viable parameter space with the ALP mass in the range of 10⁻²² eV m_a < 10^–19 eV. In addition, we show that the ALP parameter regions of interest can lead to intriguing complementary signatures in the small scale structure of DM halos and existing experimental searches for ALPs.

• Research Organization: University of California, Riverside, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: John Templeton Foundation; USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0008541
• OSTI ID: 2466239
• Journal Information: Physics Letters. B, Journal Name: Physics Letters. B Vol. 858; ISSN 0370-2693
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English