paper

Axion-like particles from primordial black holes shining through the Universe

arXiv:2107.03420 · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2021/08/063

Abstract

We consider a cosmological scenario in which the very early Universe experienced a transient epoch of matter domination due to the formation of a large population of primordial black holes (PBHs) with masses , that evaporate before Big Bang nucleosynthesis. In this context, Hawking radiation would be a non-thermal mechanism to produce a cosmic background of axion-like particles (ALPs). We assume the minimal scenario in which these ALPs couple only with photons. In the case of ultralight ALPs () the cosmic magnetic fields might trigger ALP-photon conversions, while for masses spontaneous ALP decay in photon pairs would be effective. We investigate the impact of these mechanisms on the cosmic X-ray background, on the excess in X-ray luminosity in Galaxy Clusters, and on the process of cosmic reionization.

v2. Revised version. Minor changes. References updated. Text clarified. Matches the version published on JCAP. (33 pages, 12 pdf figures)

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