Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls
Abstract We show that interactions between axion-like particles (ALPs) and co-dimension one defects, such as phase-transition bubble walls and solitonic domain walls, can lead to important changes in the evolution of both walls and ALPs. The leading effect arises from the change in the ALP decay con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of High Energy Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP04(2025)189 |
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| author | Isabel Garcia Garcia Rudin Petrossian-Byrne |
| author_facet | Isabel Garcia Garcia Rudin Petrossian-Byrne |
| author_sort | Isabel Garcia Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We show that interactions between axion-like particles (ALPs) and co-dimension one defects, such as phase-transition bubble walls and solitonic domain walls, can lead to important changes in the evolution of both walls and ALPs. The leading effect arises from the change in the ALP decay constant across the interface, which naturally follows from shift-symmetric interactions with the corresponding order parameter. Specifically, we show that for thin walls moving relativistically, an ALP background — such as e.g. axion dark matter — gives rise to a frictional force on the interface that is proportional to γ 2, with γ the Lorentz factor of the wall, and that this effect is present in both the oscillating and frozen axion regimes. We explore the broader consequences of this effect for bubble and domain walls in the early universe, and show that this source of friction can be present even in the absent of a conventional medium such as radiation or matter. Possible implications include modifications to the dynamics of bubble and domain walls and their corresponding gravitational wave signatures, as well as the generation of a dark radiation component of ALPs in the form of ultra-relativistic ‘axion shells’ with Lorentz factor γ shell ≃ 2γ 2 ≫ 1 that may remain relativistic until the present day. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b350c63eba14aafaeecaee367ae22df |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1029-8479 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b350c63eba14aafaeecaee367ae22df2025-08-20T03:53:13ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792025-04-012025413910.1007/JHEP04(2025)189Axion interactions with domain and bubble wallsIsabel Garcia Garcia0Rudin Petrossian-Byrne1Department of Physics, University of WashingtonAbdus Salam International center for Theoretical PhysicsAbstract We show that interactions between axion-like particles (ALPs) and co-dimension one defects, such as phase-transition bubble walls and solitonic domain walls, can lead to important changes in the evolution of both walls and ALPs. The leading effect arises from the change in the ALP decay constant across the interface, which naturally follows from shift-symmetric interactions with the corresponding order parameter. Specifically, we show that for thin walls moving relativistically, an ALP background — such as e.g. axion dark matter — gives rise to a frictional force on the interface that is proportional to γ 2, with γ the Lorentz factor of the wall, and that this effect is present in both the oscillating and frozen axion regimes. We explore the broader consequences of this effect for bubble and domain walls in the early universe, and show that this source of friction can be present even in the absent of a conventional medium such as radiation or matter. Possible implications include modifications to the dynamics of bubble and domain walls and their corresponding gravitational wave signatures, as well as the generation of a dark radiation component of ALPs in the form of ultra-relativistic ‘axion shells’ with Lorentz factor γ shell ≃ 2γ 2 ≫ 1 that may remain relativistic until the present day.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP04(2025)189Axions and ALPsPhase Transitions in the Early Universe |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Garcia Garcia Rudin Petrossian-Byrne Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls Journal of High Energy Physics Axions and ALPs Phase Transitions in the Early Universe |
| title | Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| title_full | Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| title_fullStr | Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| title_short | Axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| title_sort | axion interactions with domain and bubble walls |
| topic | Axions and ALPs Phase Transitions in the Early Universe |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP04(2025)189 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isabelgarciagarcia axioninteractionswithdomainandbubblewalls AT rudinpetrossianbyrne axioninteractionswithdomainandbubblewalls |