Dark energy from the string axiverse

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.

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

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• Clustering and Halo Abundances in Early Dark Energy Cosmological Models
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• Searching for Anisotropic Cosmic Birefringence with Polarization Data from SPTpol
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• Dark Energy, $H_0$ and Weak Gravity Conjecture
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• Alleviating Cosmological Tensions with a Coupled Scalar Fields Model
• Cascading Dark Energy
• Unifying Inflation with early and late Dark Energy in Multi-Fields: Spontaneously broken scale invariant TMT
• Probing Massive Scalar/Vector Fields with Binary Pulsars
• Non-Standard Cosmological Models and the trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture
• Model-independent cosmological inference after the DESI DR2 data with improved inverse distance ladder
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• Enhanced primordial gravitational waves from a stiff post-inflationary era due to an oscillating inflaton
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• Dark ages, a window on the dark sector. Hunting for ultra-light axions
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• Solving particle-antiparticle and cosmological constant problems
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