Axions with Variable Masses

Abstract

Axions with variable masses, in the context of a scalar--tensor gravity theory, give a large entropy production during the matter era. The subsequent axion dilution is proportional to their present energy density. Depending on the parameters (${\beta }_I,{\beta }_V$) of the model, this dilution relaxes or even eludes the cosmological bound on the axion mass, therefore opening the so--called ``axion window".

9 pages, RevTeX, no figures, preprint IEM-FT-55/92