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Case for axion origin of dark matter gains traction:
The existence of dark matter has been confirmed by several independent observations, but its true identity remains a mystery. According to this study, axion velocity provides a key insight into the dark matter puzzle. Previous research efforts have successfully accounted for the abundance of dark matter in the universe; however certain factors, such as the underproduction of axions with stronger ordinary matter interactions, remained unexplored.
By assigning a nonzero initial velocity to the axion field, the team discovered a mechanism—termed kinetic misalignment—producing far more axions in the early universe than conventional mechanisms. The motion, generated by breaking of the axion shift symmetry, significantly modifies the conventional computation of the axion dark matter abundance. Additionally, these dynamics allow axion dark matter to react more strongly with ordinary matter, exceeding the prediction of the conventional misalignment mechanism.
"The extensive literature on the axion was built upon the assumption that the axion field is initially static in the early universe," stated Keisuke Harigaya of the Institute for Advanced Study. "Instead, we discovered that the axion field may be initially dynamic as a consequence of theories of quantum gravity with axions."
Journal Reference:
Raymond T. Co, Lawrence J. Hall, Keisuke Harigaya. Axion Kinetic Misalignment Mechanism [open], Physical Review Letters (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.251802)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by KritonK on Saturday June 27 2020, @07:36PM (1 child)
When making up Greek-sounding words, such as "axion" (by combining [etymonline.com] "axial" with the Greek suffix "-on"), make sure that you don't end up with an actual Greek word, in this case ἄξιον [wiktionary.org] = worthy, which will most likely mean something completely different.
Not that I could make heads or tails regarding what axions [wikipedia.org] are, or what is the problem [wikipedia.org] that their existence is supposed to solve.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 28 2020, @05:45AM
Because in American, every word means exactly one thing.