English

Dark energy from the string axiverse

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2014-12-24 v2 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

String theories suggest the existence of a plethora of axion-like fields with masses spread over a huge number of decades. Here we show that these ideas lend themselves to a model of quintessence with no super-Planckian field excursions and in which all dimensionless numbers are order unity. The scenario addresses the "why now" problem, i.e., why has accelerated expansion begun only recently, by suggesting that the onset of dark-energy domination occurs randomly with a slowly decreasing probability per unit logarithmic interval in cosmic time. The standard axion potential requires us to postulate a rapid decay of most of the axion fields that do no become dark energy. The need for these decays is averted, though, with the introduction of a slightly modified axion potential. In either case, a Universe like ours arises in roughly 1 in 100 universes. The scenario may have a host of observable consequences.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1409.0549,
  title  = {Dark energy from the string axiverse},
  author = {Marc Kamionkowski and Josef Pradler and Devin G. E. Walker},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1409.0549},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

5 pages; revised scenario; axion matter contributions more severe now, conclusions regarding dark energy slightly improved; references added

R2 v1 2026-06-22T05:45:56.580Z