High Quality QCD Axion at Gravitational Wave Observatories
Ricardo Z Ferreira1, Alessio Notari2, Oriol Pujolàs1
1Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE) and The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|April 27, 2022
Summary
Heavy QCD axion models, which solve the strong CP problem, can be detected using gravitational wave (GW) signals from cosmic strings and electric dipole moment measurements. Future observatories will further probe these axion models.
Area of Science:
- Particle Physics
- Cosmology
- Astrophysics
Background:
- The strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is a major puzzle.
- Axion models offer a solution but face a 'quality problem' with Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking.
- Heavy QCD axion models avoid this quality problem, making them theoretically appealing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detectability of heavy QCD axion models.
- To explore the use of gravitational waves and electric dipole moments as probes.
- To predict the reach of future observatories for these models.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing the stochastic gravitational wave (GW) signal from axionic string-domain wall networks.
- Considering upcoming measurements of neutron and proton electric dipole moments.
- Extrapolating sensitivity reach for future GW observatories.
Main Results:
- Generic heavy QCD axion models can be probed by current LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA interferometers.
- The stochastic GW background provides a unique signature.
- Electric dipole moment measurements offer complementary constraints.
Conclusions:
- Heavy QCD axion models are experimentally accessible.
- Gravitational wave astronomy and precision measurements are powerful tools for exploring fundamental physics.
- Future GW observatories will significantly enhance our ability to test these models.
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