23 Oct 2009 | Asimina Arvanitaki, Savas Dimopoulos, Sergei Dubovsky, Nemanja Kaloper, and John March-Russell
The paper explores the possibility of a "String Axiverse," where string theory predicts the existence of numerous ultralight axions, each with a mass ranging from $10^{-33}$ eV to $10^{-10}$ eV. These axions could be detected through various astrophysical experiments, including:
1. **CMB Polarization Rotation**: Axions with masses between $10^{-33}$ eV and $4 \times 10^{-28}$ eV can cause a rotation in the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) by an angle of order $10^{-3}$. Future experiments like Planck and CMBPol will be able to probe this rotation down to $10^{-5}$.
2. **Power Spectrum Steps**: Axions with masses above $10^{-28}$ eV can suppress power in small-scale density perturbations, leading to multiple steps in the matter power spectrum. Galaxy surveys such as BOSS and 21 cm line tomography can detect these steps up to $3 \times 10^{-18}$ eV.
3. **Black Hole Dynamics**: Axions with masses between $10^{-22}$ eV and $10^{-10}$ eV can affect the dynamics of rapidly rotating black holes through superradiance. This can lead to gaps in the mass spectrum of rapidly rotating black holes, detectable by measurements of stellar mass black hole spins.
The paper also discusses the implications of these axions for the strong CP problem in QCD and the potential for string theory to provide a natural explanation for the smallness of the strong CP violation. It highlights the observational signatures of these axions and the constraints they place on string theory models.The paper explores the possibility of a "String Axiverse," where string theory predicts the existence of numerous ultralight axions, each with a mass ranging from $10^{-33}$ eV to $10^{-10}$ eV. These axions could be detected through various astrophysical experiments, including:
1. **CMB Polarization Rotation**: Axions with masses between $10^{-33}$ eV and $4 \times 10^{-28}$ eV can cause a rotation in the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) by an angle of order $10^{-3}$. Future experiments like Planck and CMBPol will be able to probe this rotation down to $10^{-5}$.
2. **Power Spectrum Steps**: Axions with masses above $10^{-28}$ eV can suppress power in small-scale density perturbations, leading to multiple steps in the matter power spectrum. Galaxy surveys such as BOSS and 21 cm line tomography can detect these steps up to $3 \times 10^{-18}$ eV.
3. **Black Hole Dynamics**: Axions with masses between $10^{-22}$ eV and $10^{-10}$ eV can affect the dynamics of rapidly rotating black holes through superradiance. This can lead to gaps in the mass spectrum of rapidly rotating black holes, detectable by measurements of stellar mass black hole spins.
The paper also discusses the implications of these axions for the strong CP problem in QCD and the potential for string theory to provide a natural explanation for the smallness of the strong CP violation. It highlights the observational signatures of these axions and the constraints they place on string theory models.