Do Dark Matter Axions Form a Condensate with Long-Range Correlation?
read the original abstract
Recently there has been significant interest in the claim that dark matter axions gravitationally thermalize and form a Bose-Einstein condensate with cosmologically long-range correlation. This has potential consequences for galactic scale observations. Here we critically examine this claim. We point out that there is an essential difference between the thermalization and formation of a condensate due to repulsive interactions, which can indeed drive long-range order, and that due to attractive interactions, which can lead to localized Bose clumps (stars or solitons) that only exhibit short range correlation. While the difference between repulsion and attraction is not present in the standard collisional Boltzmann equation, we argue that it is essential to the field theory dynamics, and we explain why the latter analysis is appropriate for a condensate. Since the axion is primarily governed by attractive interactions -- gravitation and scalar-scalar contact interactions -- we conclude that while a Bose-Einstein condensate is formed, the claim of long-range correlation is unjustified.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
Forward citations
Cited by 6 Pith papers
-
A No-Go Theorem for the Mass-Radius Relation of Solitons
A no-go theorem excludes Gamma in [0,d] for typical non-topological non-relativistic spherically symmetric solitons, with the same exclusion for barotropic fluid compact objects, ruling out natural soliton explanation...
-
An ultra-broadband axion dark matter experiment
A dc SQUID operated at the flux sweet spot with lock-in modulation yields an ultra-broadband axion search with projected sensitivity |g_aγγ| ≳ 10^{-16} GeV^{-1} across 15 orders of magnitude in mass.
-
Effective strings and particles interacting in 3D: the Ising model
In the 3D Ising model, a fluctuating domain wall interacts with bulk particles such that large-distance corrections to free energy and correlation tails are controlled by a single renormalized coupling λ in the nearly...
-
Non-relativistic effective theories for fields with general potentials and their implications for cosmology
Derives non-relativistic effective field theories for scalar fields with arbitrary potentials, provides an effective fluid description, and extends the formalism to cosmology for ultra-light dark matter models.
-
Yukawa-Screened Bose-Star Condensation
Yukawa screening in the YSP system delays Bose-star condensation and broadens the equilibrium density profile, matching a modified kinetic formula after one overall normalization fit.
-
Testing the nature of dark compact objects: a status report
Current and future observations can test whether dark compact objects are Kerr black holes or exotic alternatives, with null results strengthening the black hole paradigm.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.