Axiology

TL;DR

This paper addresses unifying the strong CP solution, dark matter, inflation, and dark energy within a single framework by introducing an axionic see-saw built from four axions. It develops hierarchical multi-axion potentials and shows how a heavy auxiliary axion decouples while three light modes can play the roles of an inflaton, a QCD axion, and a quintessence field, with a concrete four-axion realization yielding masses $m_{\varphi}\sim10^{18}$ GeV, $m_{\chi}\sim10^{12}$ GeV, $m_{\psi}\sim10^{-4}$ eV, and $m_{\omega}\sim10^{-32}$ eV. The work discusses the role of supersymmetry, presenting weak-scale SUSY and a tele-susy scenario in which the SUSY-breaking scale aligns with the QCD axion decay constant $f_a$, and it connects the model to LHC results and string-theoretic contexts. By tying the cosmological needs to a pattern of scales through an axionic see-saw chain, the paper offers a coherent, UV-motivated route to realize inflation, dark matter, and dark energy within a single framework and points to concrete directions for explicit string constructions and phenomenological exploration.

Abstract

Axions might play a crucial role for the solution of the strong CP-problem and explanation of cold dark matter in the universe. In addition they may find applications in the formulation of inflationary models for the early universe and can serve as candidates for quintessence. We show that all these phenomena can be described within a single framework exhibiting a specific pattern of mass scales: the axionic see-saw. We also discuss the role of supersymmetry (susy) in this axionic system in two specific examples: weak scale susy in the (multi) TeV range and tele-susy with a breakdown scale coinciding with the decay constant of the QCD axion: $f_a\sim 10^{11}-10^{12}$ GeV.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: Scales, masses and the axionic see-saw.