Axion-like particles (ALPs) can provide a portal to new states of a dark sector. We study the phenomenology of this portal when the ALP mainly decays invisibly, while its interaction with the standard model sector proceeds essentially via its coupling to electrons and/or photons. We re-analyse existing limits from various collider and beam dump experiments, including in particular ALP production via electron/positron interactions, in addition to the usual production through ALP-photon coupling. We further discuss the interplay between these limits and the intriguing possibility of explaining simultaneously the muon and electron magnetic moment anomalies. Finally, we illustrate the prospects of ALP searches at the LNF positron fixed-target experiment PADME, and the future reach of an upgraded experimental setup.
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, cosmological constraints must be included.
The origin of `invisible' axion in four dimensional effective beyond-standard models from string compactification is discussed and its refined passover through the QCD phase transition is presented toward a reliable estimate of the current axion energy density in terms of the initial misalignment angle $\barθ_1$. The explicit examples are presented in a flipped SU(5) GUT model. This allows to introduce a flavor symmetry through string compactification, and hence we also comment on the source of flavor symmetries from string compactification and attempts to fit the resulting Yukawa couplings to…
We reexamine the axion-photon couplings in various invisible axion models motivated by the recent proposal of using optical interferometry at the ASST facility in the SSCL to search for axion. We illustrate that the assignment of $U(1)_{PQ}$ charges for the fermion fields plays an important role in determining the couplings. Several simple non-minimal invisible axion models with suppressed and enhanced axion-photon couplings are constructed, respectively. We also discuss the implications of possible new experiments to detect solar axions by conversion to $X$-rays in a static magnetic apparatus…
The $μ$ term in the supersymmetric standard model is known to" be nonzero. Supersymmetry breaking at the intermediate scale may provide the needed $μ$ term and the invisible axion. A possible solution of this $μ$ problem in superstring models is also discussed.
I describe how under favourable circumstances the invisible axion may manifest its existence at the LHC through the sparticle spectrum; in particular through a gluino \sim \ln (M_P/m_{3/2}) times heavier than other gauginos.
By introducing local $Z_N$ symmetries with $N=11,13$ in two 3-3-1 models, it is possible to implement an automatic Peccei-Quinn symmetry, keeping the axion protected against gravitational effects at the same time. Both models have a $Z_2$ domain wall problem and the neutrinos are strictly Dirac particles.
We discuss the possibility of having a non-minimal scalar sector at the weak scale within the framework of invisible axion models. To frame our discussion we consider an extension of the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky invisible axion model with two additional Higgs doublets blind under the Peccei-Quinn symmetry. Due to mixing effects among the scalar fields, it is possible to obtain a rich scalar sector at the weak scale in certain decoupling limits of the theory. In particular, this framework provides an ultraviolet completion of the so-called aligned two-Higgs-doublet model and solves th…
In the late 1970's, the axion was proposed as a solution to the Strong CP Problem, i.e. the puzzle why the strong interactions conserve parity P and the product CP of charge conjugation and parity in spite of the fact that the Standard Model of elementary particles as a whole violates those symmetries. The original axion was soon ruled out by laboratory experiments and astrophysical considerations, but a new version was invented which is much more weakly coupled and which evades the laboratory and astrophysical constraints. It was dubbed the invisible" axion. However, the axion cannot be arbit…
We show that in any invisible axion model due to the effects of effective non-renormalizable interactions related to an energy scale near the Peccei-Quinn, grand unification or even the Planck scale, active neutrinos necessarily acquire masses in the sub-eV range. Moreover, if sterile neutrinos are also included and if appropriate cyclic $Z_N$ symmetries are imposed, it is possible that some of these neutrinos are heavy while others are light.
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 show prospects on a search for invisible decays of a Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). This search is performed on a Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson. We expect that the branching ratio of 17-22% (6-14%) could be excluded at 95% confidence level with 300 fb^{-1} (3000 fb^{-1}) of data at sqrt(s)=14 TeV. The range indicates different assumptions on the control of systematic uncertainties. Interpretations with Higgs-portal dark matter models are also considered.
We derive the necessary conditions to build a class of invisible axion models with Flavor Changing Neutral Currents at tree-level controlled by the fermion mixing matrices and present an explicit model implementation. A horizontal Peccei-Quinn symmetry provides a solution to the strong CP problem via the Peccei-Quinn mechanism and predicts a cold dark mater candidate, the invisible axion or familon. The smallness of active neutrino masses can be explained via a type I seesaw mechanism, providing a dynamical origin for the heavy seesaw scale. The possibility to avoid the domain wall problem sta…
We survey a few minimal scalar extensions of the standard electroweak model that provide a simple setup for massive neutrinos in connection with an invisible axion. The presence of a chiral $U(1)$ à la Peccei-Quinn drives the pattern of Majorana neutrino masses while providing a dynamical solution to the strong CP problem and an axion as a dark matter candidate. We paradigmatically apply such a renormalizable framework to type-II seesaw and to two viable models for neutrino oscillations where the neutrino masses arise at one and two loops, respectively. We comment on the naturalness of the eff…
It is shown that the recently proposed preon model which provides a unified origin of the diverse mass scale and an explanation of family replication as well as of inter-family mass-hierarchy, possesses a Peccei-Quinn symmetry whose spontaneous breaking leads to an automatic invisible axion. Existence of the PQ-symmetry is simply a consequence of supersymmetry and requirement of minimality in the field-content and interactions, which propose that the lagrangian should possess only those terms which are dictated by the gauge principle and no others. In addition to the axion, the model also gene…
We build a class of invisible axion models with tree-level Flavor Changing Neutral Currents completely controlled by the fermion mixing matrices. The scalar sector of these models contains three-Higgs doublets and a complex scalar gauge singlet, with the same fermionic content than the Standard Model. A horizontal Peccei-Quinn symmetry provides a solution to the strong CP problem and predicts the existence of a very light and weakly coupled pseudo-Goldstone boson, the invisible axion or familon. A phenomenological analysis is performed taking into account familon searches in rare kaon and muon…
We study the problem of integrating an invisible axion into the Randall-Sundrum scenario as an example of how to generate new energy scales between the extremes of the Planck mass and the electroweak scale. In this scenario, the axion corresponds to the phase of complex bulk scalar field. We show how to generate an intermediate energy scale by including a third brane in the scenario. We discuss the stabilization of this brane in detail to demonstrate that no additional fine-tunings arise.
We show that Peccei-Quinn and lepton number symmetries can be a natural outcome in a 3-3-1 model with right-handed neutrinos after imposing a Z_11 x Z_2 symmetry. This symmetry is suitably accommodated in this model when we augmented its spectrum by including merely one singlet scalar field. We work out the breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry, yielding the axion, and study the phenomenological consequences. The main result of this work is that the solution to the strong CP problem can be implemented in a natural way, implying an invisible axion phenomenologically unconstrained, free of domai…
Light pseudoscalars interacting pre-dominantly with Standard Model gauge bosons (so-called axion-like particles or ALPs) occur frequently in extensions of the Standard Model. In this work we review and update existing constraints on ALPs in the keV to GeV mass region from colliders, beam dump experiments and astrophysics. We furthermore provide a detailed calculation of the expected sensitivity of Belle II, which can search for visibly and invisibly decaying ALPs, as well as long-lived ALPs. The Belle II sensitivity is found to be substantially better than previously estimated, covering wide r…
I propose a variant invisible axion model of spontaneous CP violation at the electroweak scale without CP domain wall and `strong CP' problems. Both large size QCD and small size non-QCD instantons break CP and Peccei-Quinn symmetries, and render cosmologically harmful CP domain walls unstable. The decaying epoch depends on size of small instanton effects, and is around 100 eV if the current neutron electric dipole moment bound is maximally saturated. The model satisfies constraints from primordial D and He photo-dissociation and black hole formation, while producing cosmologically interesting…
How invisible can QCD axions be? From Supernova emission to Cherenkov signals
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova（意大利国家核物理研究所帕多瓦分部）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati（意大利国家核物理研究所弗拉斯卡蒂国家实验室）；Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Roma Tre（罗马三大学数学与物理系）；Centro de Astrofísica y Física de Altas Energías (CAPA), University of Zaragoza（萨拉戈萨大学天体物理学与高能物理中心）；Department of Chemistry and Physics, Barry University（巴里大学化学与物理系）；Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Galileo Galilei”, Università di Padova（帕多瓦大学伽利略·伽利莱物理与天文系）；Universitat de Barcelona（巴塞罗那大学）
We study some of the novel effects that arise when the QCD axion is placed in the ``bulk'' of large extra spacetime dimensions. First, we find that the mass of the axion can become independent of the energy scale associated with the breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry. This implies that the mass of the axion can be adjusted independently of its couplings to ordinary matter, thereby providing a new method of rendering the axion invisible. Second, we discuss the new phenomenon of laboratory axion oscillations (analogous to neutrino oscillations), and show that these oscillations cause laborato…
Conventional approaches to probing axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) typically rely on a coupling to photons. However, if this coupling is extremely weak, ALPs become invisible and are effectively decoupled from the Standard Model. Here we show that such invisible axions, which are viable candidates for dark matter, can produce a stochastic gravitational wave background in the early universe. This signal is generated in models where the invisible axion couples to a dark gauge boson that experiences a tachyonic instability when the axion begins to oscillate. Incidentally, the same mechanis…
We show that by imposing local $Z_{13}\otimes Z_3$ symmetries in an $SU(2)\otimes U(1)$ electroweak model we can implement an invisible axion in such a way that (i) the Peccei-Quinn symmetry is an automatic symmetry of the classical Lagrangian; and (ii) the axion is protected from semi classical gravitational effects. In order to be able to implement such a large discrete symmetry, and at the same time allow a general mixing in each charge sector, we introduce right-handed neutrinos and enlarge the scalar sector of the model. The domain wall problem is briefly considered.
We show that charged Eguchi-Hanson instantons provide a concrete and calculable new source of intrinsic Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking by quantum gravity. The size of this breaking is shown to depend sensitively on the short distance details of a given theory, but is generically suppressed by fermion zero modes. Demanding that these gravitational effects not affet the axion solution to the strong CP problem, we find that at least two sets of quarks with differing Peccei-Quinn charges are required. In addition, these effects obviate the cosmological axion domain wall problem but leave unchanged…
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…
We explore a model based on the classically-scale invariant standard model (SM) with a strongly coupled vector-like dynamics, which is called hypercolor (HC). The scale symmetry is dynamically broken by the vector-like condensation at the TeV scale, so that the SM Higgs acquires the negative mass-squared by the bosonic seesaw mechanism to realize the electroweak symmetry breaking. An elementary pseudoscalar $S$ is introduced to give masses for the composite Nambu-Goldstone bosons (HC pions): the HC pion can be a good target to explore through a diphoton channel at the LHC. As the consequence o…
In the effective field theory framework, we consider the effect of supersymmetry breaking via gaugino condensation and supergravity in the hidden sector gauge group on the hidden sector vacuum angle $θ_h$. The $θ_h$ parameter dependence of the potential yields phenomenologically acceptable invisible axion solutions if the $U(1)_R$ symmetry is broken down to a discrete subgroup $Z_N$ with $N\ge 3$ (N=4 is marginal). Anomalous U(1) superstring models are good candidates for this invisible axion resolution of the strong CP puzzle.
Visible matter in the current Universe is a consequence of the phase transition of the strong force, quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This phase transition has occurred at the Universe temperature around $T_c\simeq 165\,$MeV while it was expanding. Strongly interacting matter particles are quarks above $T_c$, while they are pions, protons and neutrons below $T_c$. The spin degrees of freedom 37 in the quark and gluon phase just above $T_c$ are converted to 3 (pions) after the phase transition. This phase transition might have been achieved mostly at supercooled temperatures. The supercooling was …
If the Peccei-Quinn symmetry associated to an axion has ever been restored after inflation, axion strings inevitably produce a contribution to the stochastic gravitational wave background. Combining effective field theory analysis with numerical simulations, we show that the resulting gravitational wave spectrum has logarithmic deviations from a scale invariant form with an amplitude that is significantly enhanced at low frequencies. As a result, a single ultralight axion-like particle with a decay constant larger than $10^{14}~{\rm GeV}$ and any mass between $10^{-18}~{\rm eV}$ and $10^{-28}~…
In this work we consider searches for dark matter made of axions or axion-like particles (ALPs) using resonant radio frequency cavities inserted into dipole magnets from particle accelerators, wiggler magnets developed for accelerator based advanced light sources, and toroidal magnets similar to those used in particle physics detectors. We investigate the expected sensitivity of such ALP dark matter detectors and discuss the engineering aspects of building and tuning them. Brief mention is also made of even stronger field magnets that are becoming available due to improvements in magnetic tech…
In view of the ongoing galactic (or cosmic) axion detection experiments, we compare the axion-photon-photon coupling $c_{aγγ}$'s for various invisible (or very light) axion models.
We investigate the prospects for detecting axion-like particles (ALPs, dubbed as "a") via the decay $Z\rightarrow a f\bar{f}$ at future $Z$ factories. Considering the decay channels $a\rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ and $a\rightarrow b \bar{b}$ , four types of signals $μ^+ μ^- /E$, $b b /E$, $e^+ e^- μ^+ μ^-$ and $e^+ e^- b b$ are explored. We demonstrate that these channels are promising for detecting ALPs at $Z$ factories and obtain the sensitivity bounds on the couplings $g_{aZZ}$ and $g_{aγZ}$.
We show that by introducing appropriate local $Z_N(N\geq13)$ symmetries in electroweak models it is possible to implement an automatic Peccei-Quinn symmetry keeping at the same time the axion protected against gravitational effects. Although we consider here only an extension of the standard model and a particular 3-3-1 model, the strategy can be used in any kind of electroweak model. An interesting feature of this 3-3-1 model is that if: {\it i)} we add right-handed neutrinos, {\it ii)} the conservation of the total lepton number, and {\it iii)} a $Z_2$ symmetry, the $Z_{13}$ and the chiral P…
The QCD axion is one of the most compelling solutions of the strong CP problem. There are major current efforts into searching for an ultralight, invisible axion, which is believed to be the only phenomenologically viable realization of the QCD axion. Visible axions with decay constants at or below the electroweak scale are believed to have been long excluded by laboratory searches. Considering the significance of the axion solution of the strong CP problem, we revisit experimental constraints on QCD axions in the O(10 MeV) mass window. In particular, we find a variant axion model that remains…
The observation of a non-vanishing rotation of linear polarized laser light after passage through a strong magnetic field by the PVLAS collaboration has renewed the interest in light particles coupled to photons. Axions are a species of such particles that is theoretically well motivated. However, the relation between coupling and mass predicted by standard axion models conflicts with the PVLAS observation. Moreover, light particles with a coupling to photons of the strength required to explain PVLAS face trouble from astrophysical bounds. We discuss models that can avoid these bounds. Finally…
The QCD axion couplings of various invisible axion models are presented. In particular, the exact global symmetry U(1)$_{\rm PQ}$ in the superpotential is possible for the anomalous U(1) from string compactification, broken only by the gauge anomalies at one loop level, and is shown to have the resultant invisible axion coupling to photon, $c_{aγγ}\ge \frac83-c_{aγγ}^{\rm ch\,br}$ where $c_{aγγ}^{\rm ch\,br}\simeq 2$. However, this bound is not applicable in approximate U(1)$_{\rm PQ}$ models with sufficiently suppressed U(1)$_{\rm PQ}$-breaking superpotential terms. We also present a simple m…
We determine the model-independent component of the couplings of axions to electroweak gauge bosons, induced by the minimal coupling to QCD inherent to solving the strong CP problem. The case of the invisible QCD axion is developed first, and the impact on $W$ and $Z$ axion couplings is discussed. The analysis is extended next to the generic framework of heavy true axions and low axion scales, corresponding to scenarios with enlarged confining sector. The mass dependence of the coupling of heavy axions to photons, $W$ and $Z$ bosons is determined. Furthermore, we perform a two-coupling-at-a-ti…
The current cosmological bound on the invisible axion scale may be avoided in the class of theories in which the gauge coupling constant is determined through the expectation value of some scalar field (e.g. moduli in supergravity and string theories). This leads to the cosmological scenario different from that of the standard invisible axion, since the initial values of the fields are usually far away from their true minima, allowing for the color group becoming strong in the very early universe and fixing the axion field to its minimum. The effect disappears as soon as scalar field adjusts t…
We show that a new chiral, confining interaction can be used to break Peccei-Quinn symmetry dynamically and solve the domain wall problem, simultaneously. The resulting theory is an invisible QCD axion model without domain walls. No dangerous heavy relics appear.
We propose a novel experimental scheme, called DAMSA (Dump-produced Aboriginal Matter Searches at an Accelerator), for searching for dark-sector particles, using rare nuclear isotope accelerator facilities that provide high-flux proton beams to produce a large number of rare nuclear isotopes. The high-intensity nature of their beams enables the investigation of dark-sector particles, including axion-like particles (ALPs) and dark photons. By contrast, their typical beam energies are not large enough to produce the backgrounds such as neutrinos resulting from secondary charged particles. The de…
A calculation of the expected signal due to Primakov coherent conversion of solar axions into photons via Bragg scattering in several solid--state detectors is presented and compared with present and future experimental sensitivities. The axion window m_a>~0.03 eV (not accessible at present by other techniques) could be explored in the foreseeable future with crystal detectors to constrain the axion--photon coupling constant below the latest bounds coming from helioseismology. On the contrary a positive signal in the sensitivity region of such devices would imply revisiting other more stringen…
We investigate the prospects of an extra global symmetry, added to the Standard Model in the context of baryogenesis. The $PQ$ symmetry is studied as an example. We show that the hadronic axion provides a protection of the B-asymmetry even if $B-L$=0 and that there are no limits on the neutrino masses. It is also shown that there is a crucial difference between the two possible invisible axion models. A connection between the baryon asymmetry and dark matter is also pointed out.
Using the event generator WHIZARD we study in a realistic ILC environment the prospects of measuring properties of sneutrinos that decay invisibly into the lightest neutralino and the neutrino.
We study the decay of the $Z$ vector boson into a photon and a massless (invisible) dark photon in high-energy collisions. The photon can be used as trigger for the event, while the dark photon is detected indirectly as missing momentum in the event final state. We investigate the possibility of searching for such a dark photon at the LHC, HL-LHC and future lepton colliders, and compare the respective sensitivities. As expected, the best result is found for the lepton colliders running at the $Z$ mass, FCC-ee and CEPC, with a final sensitivity to branching ratios of order $O(10^{-11})$. We als…
Axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) are some of the best-motivated dark matter (DM) candidates. Under certain circumstances, large axion fluctuations in the early universe can collapse to form dense configurations called axion clumps. The densest axion clumps are metastable states known as oscillons. In this paper we propose a new class of observables that exploit the axion's coupling to photons. As a result of this coupling an axion clump acts like an inhomogeneous refractive optical medium -- a lens -- that causes anomalous dispersion of incident electromagnetic waves. The dispersion of e…
