Astrophysics with axion miniclusters and axion stars

Abstract: Axions and axion-like particles are excellent dark matter candidates, spanning a vast range of mass scales from the milli- and micro-eV for the QCD axion, to 10^-22eV for ultralight axions, to even lighter candidates that make up the “axiverse”. In some scenarios, inhomogeneities in the axion density lead to the formation of compact structures known as axion “miniclusters” and axion stars. Topological defects in the early universe might also contribute the energy density of axions and generate primordial gravitational waves that can possibly be detected in future experiments. I will first discuss astrophysical and cosmological constraints on axions at either end of this spectrum, using data from the cosmic microwave background anisotropies and the effects of miniclusters on the gravitational microlensing and on direct detection. I will then assess the evolution of the hypothetical “axion stars”.

cosmology and nongalactic astrophysicsgeneral relativity and quantum cosmologyHEP - phenomenologyHEP - theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

( video )

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Latin American Webinars on Physics (LAWPhysics)

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