We construct a model of quintessence in string theory based on the idea of axion monodromy as discussed by McAllister, Silverstein and Westphal arXiv:0808.0706. In the model, the quintessence field is an axion whose shift symmetry is broken by the presence of 5-branes which are placed in highly warped throats. This gives rise to a potential for the axion field which is slowly varying, even after incorporating the effects of moduli stabilization and supersymmetry breaking. We find that the resulting time dependence in the equation of state of Dark Energy is potentially detectable, depending on the initial conditions. The model has many very light extra particles which live in the highly warped throats, but these are hard to detect. A signal in the rotation of the CMB polarization can also possibly arise.
We discuss the electroweak quintessence axion as a candidate for dark energy, taking into account observational as well as quantum-gravity constraints.
We point out that the swampland conjectures, forbidding the presence of global symmetries and (meta-)stable de Sitter vacua within quantum gravity, pick up a dynamical axion for the electroweak SU(2) gauge theory as a natural candidate for the quintessence field. The potential energy of the electroweak axion provides an attractive candidate for the dark energy. We discuss constraints from the weak gravity conjecture, from the conjecture of no global symmetry, and from observations, which can be satisfied elegantly in a supersymmetric extension of the standard model.
It is pointed out that a natural introduction of quintessence is an axion with an almost massless quark. With an appropriate gauge or discrete symmetry, one can obtain the quintessence potential height of order $(0.003 eV)^4$. Even though the QCD axion with almost massless up quark is a possibility, we stress the almost massless quark in the hidden sector together with the QCD axion toward the quintessence.
One of the simplest ways to account for the observed W-boson mass shift is to introduce the $SU(2)_L$ triplet Higgs boson with zero hypercharge, whose vacuum expectation value is about 3 GeV. If the triplet is heavy enough at $\mathcal{O}(1)$ TeV, it essentially contributes only to $T$ parameter without any conflict to the observation. The presence of a complex triplet Higgs boson raises the $SU(2)_L$ gauge coupling constant to $α_2(M_{\rm PL} )\simeq 1/44$ at the Planck scale. Thanks to this larger gauge coupling constant, we show that the electroweak axion vacuum energy explains the observed…
We study the observational constraints for the axion models in string theory which can successfully act as quintessence. The evolution of the universe in this model is sensitive to the initial value of the axion field. This initial value of the axion field controls deviation of the cosmic evolution from the ΛCDM behaviour. We use the recent Union2 Supernova Type Ia dataset as well as the data from BAO measurements, the WMAP measurement of the shift parameter and the $H(z)$ measurements. Using these data, the reconstructed equation of state of the axion field has extremely small deviation from …
We consider the Wilson Line PNGB which arises in a U(1)^N gauge theory, abstracted from a latticized, periodically compactified extra dimension U(1). Planck scale breaking of the PNGB's global symmetry is suppressed, providing natural candidates for the axion and quintessence. We construct an explicit model in which the axion may be viewed as the 5th component of the U(1)_Y gauge field in a 1+4 latticized periodically compactified extra dimension. We also construct a quintessence PNGB model where the ultra-low mass arises from Planck-scale suppressed physics itself.
We provide a detailed discussion of the main theoretical and phenomenological challenges of quintessence model building in any numerically controlled regime of the moduli space of string theory. We argue that a working quintessence model requires a leading order non-supersymmetric (near) Minkowski vacuum with an axionic flat direction. This axion, when lifted by subdominant non-perturbative effects, could drive hilltop quintessence only for highly tuned initial conditions and a very low inflationary scale. Our analysis has two important implications. Firstly, scenarios which are in agreement w…
Dark energy driven by an oscillating generalised axion-like quintessence field
IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science（伊克拉巴斯克，巴斯克科学基金会）；Department of Physics, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU（巴斯克大学物理系）；EHU Quantum Center, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU（巴斯克大学EHU量子中心）
A slow-rolling scalar field ($Q\equiv$ Quintessence) with potential energy $V_Q\sim (3\times 10^{-3} {\rm eV})^4$ has been proposed as the origin of accelerating universe at present. We investigate the effective potential of $Q$ in the framework of supergravity model including the quantum corrections induced by generic (nonrenormalizable) couplings of $Q$ to the gauge and charged matter multiplets. It is argued that the Kähler potential, superpotential and gauge kinetic functions of the underlying supergravity model are required to be invariant under the variation of $Q$ with an extremely fine…
We study the possibility of explaining the late time acceleration with an axion field which is coupled with the dark matter sector of the energy budget of the Universe. The axion field arises from the Ramond-Ramond sector of the Type-IIB string theory. We study the background evolution of the Universe as well as the growth of the matter perturbation in the linear regime. We subsequently use the observational data from Sn-Ia, BAO measurements, measurements of the Hubble parameter as well as the observational data for the growth of the matter perturbation to constrain our model. Our results show…
String theory axions appear to be promising candidates for explaining cosmological constant via quintessence. In this paper, we study conditions on the string compactifications under which axion quintessence can happen. For sufficiently large number of axions, cosmological constant can be accounted for as the potential energy of axions that have not yet relaxed to their minima. In compactifications that incorporate unified models of particle physics, the height of the axion potential can naturally fall close to the observed value of cosmological constant.
We study the interplay between extrema of axion potentials, Kahler moduli stabilization and the swampland criteria. We argue that moving away from the minima of non-perturbatively generated axion potentials can lead to a runaway behavior of moduli that govern the couplings in the effective field theory. The proper inclusion of these degrees of freedom resolves the conflict between periodic axion potentials and the gradient de Sitter criterion, without the need to invoke the refined de Sitter criterion. We investigate the possibility of including this runaway direction as a model of quintessenc…
We study the axion strings with the electroweak gauge flux in the DFSZ axion model and show that these strings, called the electroweak axion strings, can exhibit superconductivity without fermionic zero modes. We construct three types of electroweak axion string solutions. Among them, the string with $W$-flux can be lightest in some parameter space, which leads to a stable superconducting cosmic string. We also show that a large electric current can flow along the string due to the Peccei-Quinn scale much higher than the electroweak scale. This large current induces a net attractive force betw…
De Sitter solutions have been recently conjectured to be incompatible with quantum gravity. In this paper we critically assess the progress and challenges of different mechanisms to obtain de Sitter vacua in string compactifications and compare them to quintessence models. We argue that, despite recent criticisms, de Sitter models reached a level of concreteness and calculational control which has been improving over time. On the other hand, building string models of quintessence appears to be more challenging and requires additional fine-tuning. We discuss the tension between the swampland co…
We introduce a natural model of quintessence in string theory where the light rolling scalar is radiatively stable and couples to Standard Model matter with weaker-than- Planckian strength. The model is embedded in an anisotropic type IIB compactification with two exponentially large extra dimensions and TeV-scale gravity. The bulk turns out to be nearly supersymmetric since the scale of the gravitino mass is of the order of the observed value of the cosmological constant. The quintessence field is a modulus parameterising the size of an internal four-cycle which naturally develops a potential…
The recent BICEP2 result shows that the Universe once has gone through the vacuum with the GUT scale energy density. The implied high scale inflation nullifies the dilution idea of topological defects, strings and domain walls, of the axionic system. In particular, domain walls are disastrous if the domain wall problem with domain-wall number greater than 1 is present. We argue that the model-independent axion in string compactification with the anomalous U(1) gauge symmetry resolves the domain wall problem naturally with a symmetry principle.
Multimodal axion emissions from Abelian-Higgs cosmic strings
Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University（东北大学前沿跨学科研究院）；Department of Physics, Tohoku University（东北大学物理系）；Cosmology, Gravity, and Astroparticle Physics Group, Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)（基础科学研究院宇宙理论物理中心宇宙学、引力与天体粒子物理组）
Attempts to construct string derived effective field theory models realizing large field inflation are plagued by control issues. Targeted at a broader audience, in this article we review recent progress in isolating the underlying conceptual reasons for this failure. Special emphasis is given to models of axion monodromy inflation and their relation to the Swampland Distance Conjecture. This discriminates effective actions that admit a UV completion, the landscape, from those that do not, the swampland. Since they are conceptually very similar, we also comment on implied challenges for axioni…
We study the system of axion strings that forms in the early Universe if the Peccei-Quinn symmetry is restored after inflation. Using numerical simulations, we establish the existence of an asymptotic solution to which the system is attracted independently of the initial conditions. We study in detail the properties of this solution, including the average number of strings per Hubble patch, the distribution of loops and long strings, the way that different types of radiation are emitted, and the shape of the spectrum of axions produced. We find clear evidence of logarithmic violations of the s…
We study the contribution to the QCD axion dark matter abundance that is produced by string defects during the so-called scaling regime. Clear evidence of scaling violations is found, the most conservative extrapolation of which strongly suggests a large number of axions from strings. In this regime, nonlinearities at around the QCD scale are shown to play an important role in determining the final abundance. The overall result is a lower bound on the QCD axion mass in the post-inflationary scenario that is substantially stronger than the naive one from misalignment.
We present an explicit embedding of axionic N-flation in type IIB string compactifications where most of the Kahler moduli are stabilised by perturbative effects, and so are hierarchically heavier than the corresponding N >> 1 axions whose collective dynamics drives inflation. This is achieved in the framework of the LARGE Volume Scenario for moduli stabilisation. Our set-up can be used to realise a model of either inflation or quintessence, just by varying the volume of the internal space which controls the scale of the axionic potential. Both cases predict a very high scale of supersymmetry …
Among solutions of the strong CP problem, the "invisible" axion in the narrow axion window is argued to be the remaining possibility among natural solutions on the smallness of $\barθ$. Related to the gravity spoil of global symmetries, some prospective "invisible" axions from theory point of view are discussed. In all these discussions including the observational possibility and cosmological constraints, including a safe domain wall problem, must be included.
We demonstrate that asymmetric reheating arises in a large ensemble of string compactifications with many axions and gauged dark sectors. This phenomenon may help avoid numerous cosmological problems that may arise if the sectors were reheated democratically. Distributions of couplings are presented for two classes of axion reheatons, both of which exhibit very small couplings to most of the gauge sectors. In one class, ratios of reheating couplings and also preferred gauge groups are frequently determined by local regions in the string geometry.
The axion search experiments invite a plausible estimation of the axion--photon--photon coupling constant $\overline{c}_{aγγ}$ in string models with phenomenologically acceptable visible sectors. We present the calculation of $\overline{c}_{aγγ}$ with an exact Peccei-Quinn symmetry. In the Huh-Kim-Kyae $\Z_{12-I}$ orbifold compactification, we obtain $\overline{c}_{aγγ} =\frac{8}{3}$ even with a lot of singlets at the GUT scale, and the low-temperature axion search experiments will probe the QCD corrected coupling, $ {c}_{aγγ} \simeq \overline{c}_{aγγ}-1.98\simeq 0.69$.
If inflation scale is high, light scalars acquire large quantum fluctuations during inflation.If sufficiently long-lived, they will give rise to CDM isocurvature perturbations, which are highly constrained by the Planck data. Focusing on string axions as such light scalars, we show that thermal inflation can provide a sufficiently large entropy production to dilute the CDM isocurvature perturbations. Importantly, efficient dilution is possible for the string axions, because effectively no secondary coherent oscillations are induced at the end of thermal inflation, in contrast to the moduli fie…
It is shown that Starobinsky-like potentials can be realized in non-geometric flux compactifications of string theory, where the inflaton involves an axion whose shift symmetry can protect UV-corrections to the scalar potential. For that purpose we evaluate the backreacted, uplifted F-term axion-monodromy potential, which interpolates between a quadratic and a Starobinsky-like form. Limitations due to the requirements of having a controlled approximation of the UV theory and of realizing single-field inflation are discussed.
In this paper, we concern about applying general relativistic tests on the spacetime produced by a static black hole associated with cloud of strings, in a universe filled with quintessence. The four tests we apply are precession of the perihelion in the planetary orbits, gravitational redshift, deflection of light, and the Shapiro time delay. Through this process, we constrain the spacetime's parameters in the context of the observational data, which results in about $\sim 10^{-9}$ for the cloud of strings parameter, and $\sim 10^{-20}$ m$^{-1}$ for that of quintessence. The response of the b…
Axion is a promising candidate of dark matter. After the Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking, axion strings are formed and attached by domain walls when the temperature of the universe becomes comparable to the QCD scale. Such objects can cause cosmological disasters if they are long-lived. As a solution for it, the Lazarides-Shafi mechanism is often discussed through introduction of a new non-Abelian (gauge) symmetry. We study this mechanism in detail and show configuration of strings and walls. Even if Abelian axion strings with a domain wall number greater than one are formed in the early univer…
The recent BICEP2 measurements of B-modes indicate a large tensor-to-scalar ratio in inflationary cosmology, which points towards trans-Planckian evolution of the inflaton. We propose possible string-theory realizations thereof. Schemes for natural and axion monodromy inflation are presented in the framework of the type IIB large volume scenario. The inflaton in both cases is given by the universal axion and its potential is generated at subleading order by F-terms. Our models are shown to feature a natural mechanism for inflaton decay into predominantly Standard Model particles.
In our previous work, we found new types of the cosmic string solutions in the Abelian-Higgs model with an enhanced $U(1)$ global symmetry. We dubbed those solutions as the compensated/uncompensated strings. The compensated string is similar to the conventional cosmic string in the Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen (ANO) string, around which only the would-be Nambu-Goldstone (NG) boson winds. Around the uncompensated string, on the other hand, the physical NG boson also winds, where the physical NG boson is associated with the spontaneous breaking of the enhanced symmetry. Our previous simulation in th…
We argue that quintessence may reside in certain corners of the string landscape. It arises as a linear combination of internal space components of higher rank forms, which are axion-like at low energies, and may mix with 4-forms after compactification of the Chern-Simons terms to 4D due to internal space fluxes. The mixing induces an effective mass term, with an action which {\it preserves} the axion shift symmetry, breaking it spontaneously after the background selection. With several axions, several 4-forms, and a low string scale, as in one of the setups already invoked for dynamically exp…
We provide evidence that slow roll is not possible in any parametrically controlled regime of the moduli space of string theory. This is proven in full generality in the asymptotic limit of the moduli space of type II and heterotic Calabi-Yau compactifications for the dilaton and any number of Kähler moduli. Our results suggest that in order to build quintessence into string theory one must work in the interior of moduli space where numerical, even if not parametric, control could still be achieved.
Cosmological evolution of axionic string network is analyzed in terms of field-theoretic simulations in a box of 512^3 grids, which are the largest ever, using a new and more efficient identification scheme of global strings. The scaling parameter is found to be ξ=0.87 +- 0.14 in agreement with previous results. The energy spectrum is calculated precisely using a pseudo power spectrum estimator which significantly reduces the error in the mean reciprocal comoving momentum. The resultant constraint on the axion decay constant leads to f_a <= 3*10^11 GeV. We also discuss implications for the ear…
Axion monodromy is a generic phenomenon in string compactifications. We investigate the production of gravitational-wave background from axion monodromy inflation during preheating. By performing lattice simulations using pseudo-spectral methods, we find that significant single-peak stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds are generated during preheating for asymptotic linear $|ϕ|$ and $ϕ^{2/3}$ potentials in axion monodromy inflation and cuspy potentials. This may allow us to explore string compactifications through gravitational waves.
We describe a model of hybrid quintessence in which in addition to the tracker field there is a trigger field which is responsible for ending quintessence. As a result, hybrid quintessence does not suffer from the problems associated with the eternal acceleration of the universe. We derive the hybrid quintessence potential on branes from the interbrane interaction in string theory and show that it requires TeV scale strings and two millimeter size dimensions. This scenario predicts a dark energy density of $O(mm^{-4})$ and relates the smallness of this energy to the large size of the extra dim…
We discuss the obstacles for defining a set of observable quantities analogous to an S-matrix which are needed to formulate string theory in an accelerating universe. We show that the quintessence models with the equations of state $-1 < w <-1/3$ have future horizons and may be no better suited to an S-matrix or S-vector description. We also show that in a class of theories with a stable supersymmetric vacuum, a system cannot relax into a zero-energy supersymmetric vacuum while accelerating if the evolution is dominated by a single scalar field with a stable potential. Thus describing an etern…
We propose the mechanism to disentangle the decay constant of closed string axion from the string scale in the framework of type II string theory on Calabi-Yau manifold. We find that the quantum and geometrical corrections in the prepotential that arise at some special points in the moduli space widen the window of axion decay constant. In particular, around the small complex structure points, the axion decay constant becomes significantly lower than the string scale. We also discuss the moduli stabilization leading to the phenomenologically attractive low-scale axion decay constant.
We consider quintessence models within 4D effective descriptions of gravity coupled to two scalar fields. These theories are known to give rise to viable models of late-time cosmic acceleration without any need for flat potentials, and so they are potentially in agreement with the dS Swampland conjecture. In this paper we investigate the possibility of consistently embedding such constructions in string theory. We identify situations where the quintessence fields are either closed string universal moduli or non-universal moduli such as blow-up modes. We generically show that no trajectories co…
We study early and late time signatures of both QCD axion strings and hyperlight axion strings (axiverse strings). We focus on charge deposition onto axion strings from electromagnetic fields and subsequent novel neutralizing mechanisms due to bound state formation. While early universe signatures appear unlikely, there are a plethora of late time signatures. Axion strings passing through galaxies obtain a huge charge density, which is neutralized by a dense plasma of bound state Standard Model particles forming a one dimensional "atom". The charged wave packets on the string, as well as the d…
We are discussing some aspects of the magnetic monopoles and cosmic strings interactions with axion domain walss and membranes. The monopole moving through an axion domain wall is transformed into a monopole bag - the state with a dyon quantum number, but smaller mass. In the case of an axion membrane the passing monopole excites the chiral charged state at the membrane boundary. It will be shown that if cosmic string intersects an axion domain wall there will be $θ= π$, i.e. maximal $CP$-violation inside the string. Strings carrying the flux of the $Z$-boson field become the sources of the ba…
Light moduli fields in string compactifications can have interesting implications for particle physics and cosmology. Fifth force bounds impose stringent constraints on the interactions of such moduli with the visible sector. To be consistent with the bounds, they need to be part of hidden sectors which interact with the Standard Model with weaker-than-Planck suppressed interactions. We consider scenarios in which the visible sector degrees of freedom are localised in the compactification and light moduli arise as closed string degrees of freedom associated with hidden sectors which are geomet…
We focus on the study of the exact solution corresponding to charged AdS black holes surrounded by quintessence with a cloud of strings present in higher dimensional spacetime. We then investigate its corresponding thermodynamic criticality in the extended phase space and show that the spacetime dimension has no effect on the existence of small/large phase transition for such black holes. The heat capacity is evaluated and the geothermodynamics of Quevedo analyzed for different spacetime dimensions with the cloud of strings and quintessence parameters. We calculate the critical exponents descr…
Herein, we focus on the study of Joule-Thomson expansion corresponding to a d-dimensional charged AdS black hole with cloud of strings and quintessence. Then its relevant solution and some thermodynamic properties are investigated. Specifically, we evaluate its Joule-Thomson expansion from four important aspects, including the Joule-Thomson coefficient, inversion curve, isenthalpic curve, and ratio $\frac{T_{i}^{min}}{T_{c}}$. After analysis, different dimensions with strings of cloud and quintessence parameters have different effects on the Joule-Thomson coefficient (the same situation are fo…
We construct a string-inspired model, motivated by the flavored Peccei-Quinn (PQ) axions, as a useful bridge between flavor physics and string theory. The key feature is two anomalous gauged $U(1)$ symmetries, responsible for both the fermion mass hierarchy problem of the standard model and the strong CP problem, that combine string theory with flavor physics and severely constrain the form of the F- and D-term contributions to the potential. In the context of supersymmetric moduli stabilization we stabilize the size moduli with positive masses while leaving two axions massless and one axion m…
Rolling with modular symmetry: quintessence and de Sitter in heterotic orbifolds
Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México（墨西哥国立自治大学物理研究所）；Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua（奇瓦瓦自治大学工程学院）；Centre for Quantum Fields and Gravity, Physics Department, Swansea University（斯旺西大学物理系量子场与引力中心）
String theory posesses numerous axion candidates. The recent realization that the compactification radius in string theory might be large means that these states can solve the strong CP problem. This still leaves the question of the cosmological bound on the axion mass. Here we explore two schemes for accommodating such light axions in cosmology. In the first, we note that in string theory the universe is likely to be dominated early on by the coherent oscillations of some moduli. The usual moduli problem assumes that these fields have masses comparable to the gravitino. We argue that string m…
