A network of synchronized detectors can increase the likelihood of discovering the QCD axion, within the Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model. A similar network can also discriminate the X-rays emitted by the AQNs from the background signal. These networks can provide information on the directionality of the dark matter flux (if any), as well as its velocity distribution, and can therefore test the Standard Halo Model. We show that the optimal configuration to detect AQN-induced axions is a triangular network of stations 100 km apart. For X-rays, the optimal network is an array of tetrahedral units.
We argue that dark matter in the form of macroscopically large nuggets of standard model quarks and antiquarks can help to alleviate the tension between standard model cosmology and the recent EDGES observation of a stronger than anticipated 21 cm absorption feature. The effect occurs as a result of the thermal emission from quark nugget dark matter at early times and at energies well below the peak of the CMB. Similar radiation at early times may also contribute a fraction of the GHz range excess observed by ARCADE2.
We study a dark matter (DM) model offering a very natural explanation of two (naively unrelated) problems in cosmology: the observed relation $Ω_{\rm DM}\simΩ_{\rm visible}$ and the observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe, known as the "baryogenesis" problem. In this framework, both types of matter (dark and visible) have the same QCD origin, form at the same QCD epoch, and both proportional to one and the same dimensional parameter of the system, $Λ_{\rm QCD}$, which explains how these two, naively distinct, problems could be intimately related, and could be solved si…
We consider the formation and evolution of Axion Quark Nugget dark matter particles in the early universe. The goal of this work is to estimate the mass distribution of these objects and assess their ability to form and survive to the present day. We argue that this model allows a broad range of parameter space in which the AQN may account for the observed dark matter mass density, naturally explains a similarity between the "dark" and "visible" components, i.e. $Ω_{\rm dark}\sim Ω_{\rm visible}$, and also offer an explanation for a number of other long standing puzzles such as "Primordial Lit…
We study the new mechanism of the axion production suggested recently in [1,2]. This mechanism is based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented to explain the similarity of the dark and visible cosmological matter densities. We perform numerical simulations to evaluate the axion flux on the Earth's surface. We examine annual and daily modulations, which have been studied previously and are known to occur for any type of dark matter. We also discuss a novel type of short time enhancements which are unique to the AQN model: the statistical fluct…
We explore the possibility that the Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are powered by magnetic reconnection in magnetars, triggered by Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter. In this model, the magnetic reconnection is ignited by the shock wave which develops when the nuggets' Mach number $M \gg 1$. These shock waves generate very strong and very short impulses expressed in terms of pressure $Δp/p\sim M^2$ and temperature $ΔT/T\sim M^2$ in the vicinity of (would be) magnetic reconnection area. We find that the proposed mechanism produces a coherent emission which is consistent with current data, in partic…
We advocate an idea that the presence of the daily and annual modulations of the axion flux on the Earth surface may dramatically change the strategy of the axion searches. Our computations are based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model which was originally put forward to explain the similarity of the dark and visible cosmological matter densities $Ω_{\rm dark}\sim Ω_{\rm visible}$. In our framework, the population of galactic axions with mass $ 10^{-6} {\rm eV}\lesssim m_a\lesssim 10^{-3}{\rm eV}$ and velocity $< v_a>\sim 10^{-3} c$ will be always accompanied by the axi…
We study a testable dark matter (DM) model outside of the standard WIMP paradigm in which the observed ratio $Ω_{\rm dark} \simeq Ω_{\rm visible}$ for visible and dark matter densities finds its natural explanation as a result of their common QCD origin when both types of matter (DM and visible) are formed at the QCD phase transition and both are proportional to $Λ_{\rm QCD}$. Instead of conventional "baryogenesis" mechanism we advocate a paradigm when the "baryogenesis" is actually a charge separation process which always occur in the presence of the $\cal{CP}$ odd axion field $a(x)$. In this…
We review a testable, the axion quark nugget (AQN) model outside of the standard WIMP paradigm. The model was originally invented to explain the observed similarity between the dark and the visible components, $Ω_{\rm DM}\approx Ω_{\rm visible}$ in a natural way as both types of matter are formed during the same QCD transition and proportional to the same dimensional fundamental parameter of the system, $Λ_{\rm QCD}$. In this framework the baryogenesis is actually a charge segregation (rather than charge generation) process which is operational due to the $\cal{CP}$-odd axion field,while the g…
Astrophysics today faces a number of mysteries which defiant their resolutions in spite of drastic improvements in instrumental design, better technique being developed, and gradual improvements in theoretical and computation methods over last decades. Primordial Lithium Puzzle is known to stay with us for at least two decades, and it is very likely that its final resolution will require some fundamentally new ideas, novel frameworks and a non-conventional paradigms. We propose that Primordial Lithium Puzzle finds its natural resolution within the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter…
We advocate an idea that the Axion Quark Nuggets (AQN) hitting the Earth can be detected by analysing the infrasound, acoustic and seismic waves which always accompany the AQN's passage in the atmosphere and underground. Our estimates for the infrasonic frequency $ν\simeq 5$ ~Hz and overpressure $δp\sim 0.3 ~$Pa for relatively large size dark matter (DM) nuggets suggest that sensitivity of presently available instruments is already sufficient to detect very intense (but very rare) events today with existing technology. A study of much more frequent but less intense events requires a new type o…
We review a testable dark matter (DM) model outside of the standard WIMP paradigm. The model is unique in a sense that the observed ratio $Ω_{\rm dark} \simeq Ω_{\rm visible}$ for visible and dark matter densities finds its natural explanation as a result of their common QCD origin when both types of matter (DM and visible) are formed during the QCD transition and both are proportional to single dimensional parameter of the system, $Λ_{\rm QCD}$. We argue that the charge separation effect also inevitably occurs during the same QCD transition in the presence of the $\cal{CP}$ odd axion field $a…
The present work studies the dynamics of axion quark nuggets introduced in \cite{zhitnitsky} and exploited in the works \cite{zhitnitsky2}-\cite{zhitnitsky13}. The new feature considered here is the possibility that these nuggets become ferromagnetic. This possibility was pointed out in \cite{tatsumi}, although ferromagnetism may also take place due some anomaly terms found in \cite{son}-\cite{son2}. The purpose of the present letter however, is not to give evidence in favor or against these statements. Instead, it is focused in some direct consequences of this ferromagnetic behavior, if it ex…
Telescope Array (TA) experiment has recorded \cite{Abbasi:2017rvx,Okuda_2019} several short time bursts of air shower like events. These bursts are very distinct from conventional single showers, and are found to be strongly correlated with lightnings. In our previous work \cite{Zhitnitsky:2020shd} we proposed that these bursts represent the direct manifestation of the dark matter (DM) annihilation events within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) model. In the present work we suggest to test this proposal to search for the radio signals in frequency band $ν\in (0.5-200)$ MHz which must be …
It has been recently argued [1-3] that there is a strong component of the diffuse far-ultraviolet (FUV) background which is hard to explain by conventional physics in terms of the dust-scattered starlight. We propose that this excess in FUV radiation might be result of the dark matter annihilation events within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented for completely different purpose to explain the observed similarity between the dark and the visible components in the Universe, i.e. $Ω_{\rm DM}\sim Ω_{\rm visible}$. We support this proposal by dem…
In this work we advocate for the idea that two seemingly unrelated 80-year-old mysteries - the nature of dark matter and the high temperature of the million degree solar corona - may have resolutions that lie within the same physical framework. The current paradigm is that the corona is heated by nanoflares, which were originally proposed as miniature versions of the observed solar flares. It was recently suggested that the nanoflares could be identified as annihilation events of the nuggets from the Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model. This model was invented as an explanation of the o…
We advocate the idea that the nanoflares conjectured by Parker long ago to resolve the corona heating problem, may also trigger the larger solar flares. The arguments are based on the model where emission of extreme ultra violet (EUV) radiation and soft x-rays from the Sun are powered externally by incident dark matter particles within the Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) Dark Matter Model. The corresponding annihilation events of the AQNs with the solar material are identified with nanoflares. This model was originally invented as a natural explanation of the observed ratio $Ω_{\rm dark} \sim Ω_{\rm …
The Antarctic Impulse Transient Antenna (\textsc{ANITA}) collaboration [1-3] has reported two anomalous events with noninverted polarity. These events are hard to explain in terms of conventional cosmic rays (CRs). We explore a new possible explanation for these anomalous events by suggesting that these events can be related to the dark matter (DM) annihilations within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) DM model. This model was initially invented for a completely different purpose to explain the observed similarity between the dark and the visible components in the Universe, i.e. $Ω_{\rm D…
The DAMA/LIBRA experiment shows $9.5 σ$ evidence for an annual modulation in the $(1-6)~ {\rm keV}$ energy range, strongly suggesting that the observed modulation has the dark matter origin. However, the conventional interpretation in terms of WIMP-nucleon interaction is excluded by other experiments. We propose an alternative source of modulation in the form of neutrons, which have been liberated from surrounding material. Our computations are based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented long ago to explain the similarity between the dark an…
The axion quark nuggets introduced in \cite{zhitnitsky}-\cite{zhitnitsky13} are a candidate for cold dark matter which, in addition, may be relevant in baryogenesis scenarios. The present work studies their evolution till they enter in the colour superconducting phase. This evolution was already considered in \cite{zhitnitsky5}, where it is concluded that a large chemical potential $μ$ is induced on the bulk of the object. The baryon number accumulated at the domain wall surrounding the object is taken as predominant in \cite{zhitnitsky5}, and it is suggested that internal and external fluxes …
The Horizon-10T collaboration \cite{Beisembaev:2016cyg,2017EPJWC.14514001B,Beznosko:2019cI,2019EPJWC.20806002B,Beisembaev:2019nzd} have reported observation of Multi-Modal Events (MME) containing multiple peaks suggesting their clustering origin. These events are proven to be hard to explain in terms of conventional cosmic rays (CR). We propose that these MMEs might be result of the dark matter annihilation events within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented for completely different purpose to explain the observed similarity between the dark an…
Telescope Array (TA) experiment has recorded \cite{Abbasi:2017rvx,Okuda_2019} several short time bursts of air shower like events. These bursts are very distinct from conventional single showers, and are found to be strongly correlated with lightnings. We propose that these bursts represent the direct manifestation of the dark matter annihilation events within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) model, which was originally invented for completely different purpose to explain the observed similarity between the dark and the visible components in the Universe, i.e. $Ω_{\rm DM}\sim Ω_{\rm visi…
The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) recorded \cite{Mondal-2020} impulsive radio events in the quiet solar corona at frequencies 98, 120, 132, and 160 MHz. We propose that these radio events are the direct manifestation of dark matter annihilation events within the axion quark nugget (AQN) framework. It has been argued \cite{Zhitnitsky:2017rop,Raza:2018gpb} that the AQN annihilation events in the quiet solar corona can be identified with the nanoflares conjectured by Parker \cite{Parker-1983}. We further support this claim by demonstrating that observed impulsive radio events \cite{Mondal-2020}…
The Pierre Auger Observatory have reported [1-3] observation of several exotic cosmic ray -like events which apparently related to thunderstorms. These events are much larger in size than conventional cosmic ray events, and they have very distinct timing features. A possible nature of the observed phenomenon is still a matter of active research and debates as many unusual features of these exotic events are hard to explain. In particular, the frequency of appearance of these exotic events is very low (less than 2 events/year), in huge contrast with a typical rate of a conventional lightning st…
We consider a dark matter (DM) model offering a very natural explanation of the observed relation, $Ω_{\rm dark} \sim Ω_{\rm visible}$. This generic consequence of the model is a result of the common origin of both types of matter (DM and visible) which are formed during the same QCD transition. The masses of both types of matter in this framework are proportional to one and the same dimensional parameter of the system, $Λ_{\rm QCD}$. The focus of the present work is the detail study of the dynamics of the $\cal{CP}$-odd coherent axion field $a(x)$ just before the QCD transition. We argue that…
"Dark quark nuggets", a lump of dark quark matter, can be produced in the early universe for a wide range of confining gauge theories and serve as a macroscopic dark matter candidate. The two necessary conditions, a nonzero dark baryon number asymmetry and a first-order phase transition, can be easily satisfied for many asymmetric dark matter models and QCD-like gauge theories with a few massless flavors. For confinement scales from 10 keV to 100 TeV, these dark quark nuggets with a huge dark baryon number have their masses vary from $10^{23}~\mathrm{g}$ to $10^{-7}~\mathrm{g}$ and their radii…
We advocate for the idea that there is a fundamentally new mechanism for axion production on Earth, as recently suggested in Fischer et al. (2018) and Liang & Zhitnitsky (2018). We specifically focus on production of axions within Earth, with low velocities such that they will be trapped in the gravitational field. Our computations are based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented to explain the similarity of the dark and visible cosmological matter densities. This occurs in the model irrespective of the axion mass $m_\mathrm{a}$ or initial mi…
Dark matter is one of the biggest open questions in physics today. It is known that it interacts gravitationally with luminous matter, so accelerometer-based searches are inherently interesting. In this article we present recent (and future) searches for dark matter candidates such as feebly interacting matter trapped inside the Earth, scalar-matter domain walls and axion quark nuggets, with accelerometer networks and give an outlook of how new atomic-interferometry-based accelerometer networks could support dark matter searches.
Quark nuggets are a candidate for dark matter consistent with the Standard Model. Previous models of quark nuggets have investigated properties arising from their being composed of strange, up, and down quarks and have not included any effects caused by their self-magnetic field. However, Tatsumi found that the core of a magnetar star may be a quark nugget in a ferromagnetic state with core magnetic field B between $10^{ 11}$ T and $10^{ 13}$ T. We apply Tatsumi$'$s result to quark-nugget dark-matter and report results on aggregation of magnetized quark nuggets (MQNs) after formation from the …
A quark nugget is a hypothetical dark-matter candidate composed of approximately equal numbers of up, down, and strange quarks. Most models of quark nuggets do not include effects of their intrinsic magnetic field. However, Tatsumi used a mathematically tractable approximation of the Standard Model of Particle Physics and found that the cores of magnetar pulsars may be quark nuggets in a ferromagnetic liquid state with surface magnetic field Bo between $10^{ 11}$ T and $10^{ 13}$ T. We have applied that result to quark-nugget dark matter. Previous work addressed the formation and aggregation o…
Prepared for Snowmass 2013 e-Proceedings. We review a testable dark matter model outside of the standard WIMP paradigm in which the observed ratio Omega_{dark} ~ 5 Omega_{visible} for visible and dark matter densities finds its natural explanation as a result of their common QCD origin. Special emphasis is placed on the observational consequences of this model and on the detection prospects for present or planned experiments. In particular, we argue that the relative intensities for a number of observed excesses of emission (covering more than 11 orders of magnitude) can be explained by this m…
We revisit the properties of positron cloud in quark nugget (QN) model of dark matter (DM). In this model, dark matter particles are represented by compact composite objects composed of a large number of quarks or antiquarks with total baryon number $B\sim 10^{24}$. These particles have a very small number density in our galaxy which makes them "dark" to all DM detection experiments and cosmological observations. In this scenario, anti-quark nuggets play special role because they may manifest themselves in annihilation with visible matter. We study electron-positron annihilation in collisions …
It has recently been claimed that dark matter in form of quark nuggets cannot account for more than 20% of the dark matter density. This claim is based on constraints on the neutrino flux in 20-50 MeV range where the sensitivity of underground neutrino detectors such as Super-Kamiokande have their highest signal-to-noise ratio. We argue that this claim depends crucially on the assumption that the annihilation of visible baryons with an antiquark nugget will generate a neutrino spectrum similar to the conventional baryon-antibaryon annihilation spectrum in vacuum. However, this assumption does …
Nuggets---very large stable bound objects arising in the presence of a sufficiently attractive and long-range force and in the absence of a dark Coulomb force---are a smoking gun signature for Asymmetric Dark Matter (ADM). The cosmology of ADM nuggets is both generic and unique: nuggets feature highly exothermic fusion processes, which can impact the shape of the core in galaxies, as well as give rise to rare dark star formation. We find, considering the properties of nuggets in a generic extended nuclear model with both attractive and repulsive forces, that self-interaction constraints place …
We advocate the idea that there is a fundamentally new mechanism for the axion production in the Sun, which has never been discussed previously in the literature. This novel mechanism of the axion production is based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) Dark Matter Model. These axions will be produced in addition to well studied axions emitted due to the Primakoff effect. The AQN model was originally invented as a natural explanation of the observed ratio $Ω_{\rm dark} \sim Ω_{\rm visible}$ when the DM and visible matter densities assume the same order of magnitude values, irrespectively …
Under the expectation that nature is natural, we extend the Standard Model to include SUSY to stabilize the electroweak sector and PQ symmetry to stabilize the QCD sector. Then natural SUSY arises from a Kim-Nilles solution to the SUSY mu problem which allows for a little hierarchy where mu ~ f_a^2/M_P ~ 100-300 GeV while the SUSY particle mass scale m(SUSY)~ 1-10 TeV >> mu. Dark matter then consists of two particles: a higgsino-like WIMP and a SUSY DFSZ axion. The range of allowed axion mass values m(axion) depends on the mixed axion-higgsino relic density. The range of m(axion) is actually r…
The ultralight axion with mass around $10^{-22}$ eV is known as a candidate of dark matter. A peculiar feature of the ultralight axion is oscillating pressure in time, which produces oscillation of gravitational potentials. Since the solar system moves through the dark matter halo at the velocity of about $v \sim 300 \, \text{km} / \text{s} = 10^{-3}$, there exists axion wind, which looks like scalar gravitational waves for us. Hence, there is a chance to detect ultralight axion dark matter with a wide mass range by using laser interferometer detectors. We calculate the detector signal induced…
Quark nuggets are theoretical objects composed of approximately equal numbers of up, down, and strange quarks. They are also called strangelets, nuclearites, AQNs, slets, Macros, and MQNs. Quark nuggets are a candidate for dark matter, which has been a mystery for decades despite constituting ${\sim}85\%$ of matter. Most previous models of quark nuggets have assumed no intrinsic magnetic field; however, Tatsumi found that quark nuggets may exist in magnetars as a ferromagnetic liquid with a magnetic field between $10^{ 11}$ T and $10^{ 13}$ T. We apply that result to quark nuggets, a dark-matt…
As recently advocated in \cite{Fischer:2018niu}, there is a fundamentally new mechanism for the axion production in the Sun and Earth. However, the role of very slow axions in previous studies were neglected because of its negligible contribution to the total axion production by this new mechanism. In the present work we specifically focus on analysis of the non-relativistic axions which will be trapped by the Sun and Earth due to the gravitational forces. The corresponding emission rate of these low energy axions (below the escape velocity) is very tiny. However, these axions will be accumula…
We point out two ways to search for low-mass axion dark matter using cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization measurements. These appear, in particular, to be some of the most promising ways to directly detect fuzzy dark matter. Axion dark matter causes rotation of the polarization of light passing through it. This gives rise to two novel phenomena in the CMB. First, the late-time oscillations of the axion field today cause the CMB polarization to oscillate in phase across the entire sky. Second, the early-time oscillations of the axion field wash out the polarization produced at last-sc…
It is shown that nuggets of strange quark matter may be extracted from the surface of pulsars and accelerated by strong electric fields to high energies if pulsars are strange stars with the crusts, comprised of nuggets embedded in a uniform electron background. Such high energy nuggets called usually strangelets give an observable contribution into galactic cosmic rays and may be detected by the upcoming cosmic ray experiment Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer AMS-02 on the International Space Station.
The Dark Axion Portal provides a model for Dark Matter (DM) in which both Dark Photons $γ^\prime$ and Axions $a$ can contribute to the present day abundance of DM. We study the parameter space of the Dark Axion Portal to pinpoint regions of the parameter space where $γ^\prime$ and $a$ can be produced with sufficient abundance to account for the cosmic DM density, while still being detectable in planned direct detection and axion haloscope experiments. In particular, we explore the production of eV-scale Dark Photons in the Dark Axion Portal, taking into account a possible kinetic mixing betwee…
We show results for the expected reach of the network of experiments that is being set up globally with the aim of detecting the "invisible" axion, in light of a non-standard thermal history of the universe. Assuming that the axion is the dark matter, we discuss the reach of a successful detection by a given experimental setup in a particular axion mass window for different modifications of the cosmological background before primordial nucleosynthesis occurred. Results are presented both in the case where the present energy budget in cold axions is produced through the vacuum realignment mecha…
We develop a formalism to describe extensions of existing axion haloscope designs to those that possess directional sensitivity to incoming dark matter axion velocities. The effects are measurable if experiments are designed to have dimensions that approach the typical coherence length for the local axion field. With directional sensitivity, axion detection experiments would have a greatly enhanced potential to probe the local dark matter velocity distribution. We develop our formalism generally, but apply it to specific experimental designs, namely resonant cavities and dielectric disk halosc…
In 1984 Edward Witten proposed that an extremely dense form of matter composed of up, down, and strange quarks may be stable at zero pressure (Witten, 1984). Massive nuggets of such dense matter, if they exist, may pass through the Earth and be detectable by the seismic signals they generate (de Rujula and Glashow, 1984). With this motivation we investigated over 1 million seismic data reports to the U.S. Geological Survey for the years 1990-1993 not associated with epicentral sources. We report two results: (1) with an average of about 0.16 unassociated reports per minute after data cuts, we …
We propose a new broadband search strategy for ultralight axion dark matter that interacts with electromagnetism. An oscillating axion field induces transitions between two quasi-degenerate resonant modes of a superconducting cavity. In two broadband runs optimized for high and low masses, this setup can probe unexplored parameter space for axion-like particles covering fifteen orders of magnitude in mass, including astrophysically long-ranged fuzzy dark matter.
We study the direct radiation excited by oscillating axion (or axion-like particle) dark matter in a homogenous magnetic field and its detection scheme. We concretely derive the analytical expression of the axion-induced radiated power for a cylindrical uniform magnetic field. In the long wave limit, the radiation power is proportional to the square of the B-field volume and the axion mass $m_a$, whereas it oscillate as approaching the short wave limit and the peak powers are proportional to the side area of the cylindrical magnetic field and $m_a^{-2}$. The maximum power locates at mass $m_a\…
Quantum coherence is one of the most striking features of quantum mechanics rooted in the superposition principle. Recently it has been demonstrated that it is possible to harvest the quantum coherence from a coherent scalar field. In order to explore a new method of detecting axion dark matter, we consider a point-like Unruh-DeWitt detector coupled to the axion field and quantify a coherent measure of the detector. We show that the detector can harvest the quantum coherence from the axion dark matter. To be more precise, we consider a two-level of electron system in an atom as the detector. I…
We consider axion production during the formation of a quark-gluon plasma in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and discuss a possible detection scheme.
