arXiv subjects

Joshua Eby

Publications and source records attributed to Joshua Eby.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Global View of Axion Stars with (Nearly) Planck-Scale Decay Constants

We show that axion stars formed from axions with nearly Planck-scale decay constants $f$ are unstable to decay, and are unlikely to have phenomenological consequences. More generally, we show how results at smaller $f$ cannot be naively extrapolated to $f=\mathcal{O}(M_P)$ as, contrary to conventional wisdom, gravity and special relativity can both become relevant in the same regime. We clarify the rate of decay by reviewing and extending previous work on oscillons and axion stars, which imply a fast decay rate even for so-called dilute states at large $f$.

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arXiv2021

Searching for Earth/Solar Axion Halos

We discuss the sensitivity of the present and near-future axion dark matter experiments to a halo of axions or axion-like particles gravitationally bound to the Earth or the Sun. The existence of such halos, assuming they are formed, renders a significant gain in the sensitivity of axion searches while satisfying all the present experimental bounds. The structure and coherence properties of these halos also imply novel signals, which can depend on the latitude or orientation of the detector. We demonstrate this by analysing the sensitivity of several distinct types of axion dark matter experiments.

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arXiv2020

Galactic Condensates composed of Multiple Axion Species

Ultralight scalar dark matter has been proposed to constitute a component of dark matter, though the minimal scenarios have increasingly become constrained. In this work, we analyze scenarios where the dark matter consists of more than one ultralight boson, each with different masses. This potentially leads to formation of gravitationally-bound Bose-Einstein condensates with structures that are very different from condensates composed of a single scalar field. By generalizing from the well-understood single-flavor case, we explore a large range of input parameters, subject to stability criteria, and determine the allowed parameter space for two-flavor condensates as a function of particle physics parameters, paying particular attention to cases where such condensates could compose galactic cores. We also analyze single-flavor condensates subject to external gravity from massive inner bodies and find that such systems may mimic the size of galactic cores as well.

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arXiv2019

Relaxion Stars and their detection via Atomic Physics

The cosmological relaxion can address the hierarchy problem, while its coherent oscillations can constitute dark matter in the present universe. We consider the possibility that the relaxion forms gravitationally bound objects that we denote as relaxion stars. The density of these stars would be higher than that of the local dark matter density, resulting in enhanced signals in table-top detectors, among others. Furthermore, we raise the possibility that these objects may be trapped by an external gravitational potential, such as that of the Earth or the Sun. This leads to formation of relaxion halos of even greater density. We discuss several interesting implications of relaxion halos, as well as detection strategies to probe them.

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arXiv2019

Global view of QCD axion stars

Taking a comprehensive view, including a full range of boundary conditions, we reexamine QCD axion star solutions based on the relativistic Klein-Gordon equation (using the Ruffini-Bonazzola approach) and its non-relativistic limit, the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. A single free parameter, conveniently chosen as the central value of the wavefunction of the axion star, or alternatively the chemical potential with range $-m<μ< 0$ (where $m$ is the axion mass), uniquely determines a spherically-symmetric ground state solution, the axion condensate. We clarify how the interplay of various terms of the Klein-Gordon equation determines the properties of solutions in three separate regions: the structurally stable (corresponding to a local energy minimum) dilute and dense regions, and the intermediate, structurally unstable transition region. From the Klein-Gordon equation, one can derive alternative equations of motion including the Gross-Pitaevskii and Sine-Gordon equations, which have been used previously to describe axion stars in the dense region. In this work, we clarify precisely how and why such methods break down as the binding energy increases, emphasizing the necessity of using the full relativistic Klein-Gordon approach. Finally, we point out that, even after including perturbative axion number violating corrections, solutions to the equations of motion, which assume approximate conservation of axion number, break down completely in the regime with strong binding energy, where the magnitude of the chemical potential approaches the axion mass.

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arXiv2019

Luminous Signals of Inelastic Dark Matter in Large Detectors

We study luminous dark matter signals in models with inelastic scattering. Dark matter $χ_1$ that scatters inelastically off elements in the Earth is kicked into an excited state $χ_2$ that can subsequently decay into a monoenergetic photon inside a detector. The photon signal exhibits large sidereal-daily modulation due to the daily rotation of the Earth and anisotropies in the problem: the dark matter wind comes from the direction of Cygnus due to the Sun's motion relative to the galaxy, and the rock overburden is anisotropic, as is the dark matter scattering angle. This allows outstanding separation of signal from backgrounds. We investigate the sensitivity of two classes of large underground detectors to this modulating photon line signal: large liquid scintillator neutrino experiments, including Borexino and JUNO, and the proposed large gaseous scintillator directional detection experiment CYGNUS. Borexino's (JUNO's) sensitivity exceeds the bounds from xenon experiments on inelastic nuclear recoil for mass splittings $δ\gtrsim 240 (180)$ keV, and is the only probe of inelastic dark matter for ${350 \text{ keV} \lesssim δ\lesssim 600 \text{ keV}}$. CYGNUS's sensitivity is at least comparable to xenon experiments with $\sim 10 \; {\rm m}^3$ volume detector for $δ\lesssim 150$ keV, and could be substantially better with larger volumes and improved background rejection. Such improvements lead to the unusual situation that the inelastic signal becomes the superior way to search for dark matter even if the elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections are comparable.

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arXiv2019

Ultra-light dark matter in disk galaxies

Analytic arguments and numerical simulations show that bosonic ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) would form cored density distributions (`solitons') at the center of galaxies. ULDM solitons offer a promising way to exclude or detect ULDM by looking for a distinctive feature in the central region of galactic rotation curves. Baryonic contributions to the gravitational potential pose an obstacle to such analyses, being (i) dynamically important in the inner galaxy and (ii) highly non-spherical in rotation-supported galaxies, resulting in non-spherical solitons. We present an algorithm for finding the ground state soliton solution in the presence of stationary non-spherical background baryonic mass distribution. We quantify the impact of baryons on the predicted ULDM soliton in the Milky Way and in low surface-brightness galaxies from the SPARC database.

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arXiv2018

Stability of Condensed Fuzzy Dark Matter Halos

Stability properties of gravitationally bound condensates composed of ultralight axionic Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM) are studied. Previous work has shown that astrophysical collisions could make self-gravitating condensates structurally unstable, making them prone to collapse and decay; in the context of FDM, we reexamine the relevant timescales using the time-dependent variational method. We show that FDM condensates can be made unstable through gravitational interactions with central black holes, for black hole masses in a phenomenologically relevant range. Instability could also be stimulated by galaxy collisions. The subsequent decay takes place over a period lasting as long as many thousands of years. We also discuss the possible relevance of FDM condensates to understanding the composition of Ultracompact Dwarf (UCD) Galaxies. Future observation of extremely massive black holes in the central regions of UCDs can constrain this interpretation.

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arXiv2018

On Approximation Methods in the Study of Boson Stars

We analyze the accuracy of the variational method in computing physical quantities relevant for gravitationally bound Bose-Einstein condensates. Using a variety of variational ansätze found in existing literature, we determine physical quantities and compare them to exact numerical solutions. We conclude that a "linear+exponential" wavefunction proportional to $(1 + ξ)\exp(-ξ)$ (where $ξ$ is a dimensionless radial variable) is the best fit for attractive self-interactions along the stable branch of solutions, while for small particle number $N$ it is also the best fit for repulsive self-interactions. For attractive self-interactions along the unstable branch, a single exponential is the best fit for small $N$, while a sech wavefunction fits better for large $N$. The Gaussian wavefunction ansatz, which is used often in the literature, is exceedingly poor across most of the parameter space, with the exception of repulsive interactions for large $N$. We investigate a "double exponential" ansatz with a free constant parameter, which is computationally efficient and can be optimized to fit the exact solutions in different limits. We show that the double exponential can be tuned to fit the sech ansatz, which is computationally slow. We also show how to generalize the addition of free parameters in order to create more computationally efficient ansätze using the double exponential. Determining the best ansatz, according to several comparison parameters, will be important for analytic descriptions of dynamical systems. Finally, we examine the underlying relativistic theory, and critically analyze the Thomas-Fermi approximation often used in the literature.

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arXiv2018

Classical Nonrelativistic Effective Field Theory and the Role of Gravitational Interactions

Coherent oscillation of axions or axion-like particles may give rise to long-lived clumps, called axion stars, because of the attractive gravitational force or its self-interaction. Such a kind of configuration has been extensively studied in the context of oscillons without the effect of gravity, and its stability can be understood by an approximate conservation of particle number in a non-relativistic effective field theory (EFT). We extend this analysis to the case with gravity to discuss the longevity of axion stars and clarify the EFT expansion scheme in terms of gradient energy and Newton's constant. Our EFT is useful to calculate the axion star configuration and its classical lifetime without any ad hoc assumption. In addition, we derive a simple stability condition against small perturbations. Finally, we discuss the consistency of other non-relativistic effective field theories proposed in the literature.

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arXiv2018

Expansion in Higher Harmonics of Boson Stars using a Generalized Ruffini-Bonazzola Approach, Part 1: Bound States

The method pioneered by Ruffini and Bonazzola (RB) to describe boson stars involves an expansion of the boson field which is linear in creation and annihilation operators. In the nonrelativistic limit, the equation of motion of RB is equivalent to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Further, the RB expansion constitutes an exact solution to a non-interacting field theory, and has been used as a reasonable ansatz for an interacting one. In this work, we show how one can go beyond the RB ansatz towards an exact solution of the interacting operator Klein-Gordon equation, which can be solved iteratively to ever higher precision. Our Generalized Ruffini-Bonazzola approach takes into account contributions from nontrivial harmonic dependence of the wavefunction, using a sum of terms with energy $k\,E_0$, where $k\geq1$ and $E_0$ is the chemical potential of a single bound axion. The method critically depends on an expansion in a parameter $Δ\equiv \sqrt{1 - E_0{}^2/m^2} < 1$, where $m$ is the mass of the boson. In the case of the axion potential, we calculate corrections which are relevant for axion stars in the transition or dense branches of solutions. We find with high precision the local minimum of the mass, $M_{min}\approx 463\,f^2/m$, at $Δ\approx0.27$, where $f$ is the axion decay constant. This point marks the crossover from the transition branch to the dense branch of solutions, and a corresponding crossover from structural instability to stability.

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arXiv2018

Decay of Ultralight Axion Condensates

Axion particles can form macroscopic condensates, whose size can be galactic in scale for models with very small axion masses $m\sim10^{-22}$ eV, and which are sometimes referred to under the name of Fuzzy Dark Matter. Many analyses of these condensates are done in the non-interacting limit, due to the weakness of the self-interaction coupling of axions. We investigate here how certain results change upon inclusion of these interactions, finding a decreased maximum mass and a modified mass-radius relationship. Further, these condensates are, in general, unstable to decay through number-changing interactions. We analyze the stability of galaxy-sized condensates of axion-like particles, and sketch the parameter space of stable configurations as a function of a binding energy parameter. We find a strong lower bound on the size of Fuzzy Dark Matter condensates which are stable to decay, with lifetimes longer than the age of the universe.

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arXiv2017

Collider Signatures of Flavorful Higgs Bosons

Motivated by our limited knowledge of the Higgs couplings to first two generation fermions, we analyze the collider phenomenology of a class of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs) with a non-standard Yukawa sector. One Higgs doublet is mainly responsible for the masses of the weak gauge bosons and the third generation fermions, while the second Higgs doublet provides mass for the lighter fermion generations. The characteristic collider signatures of this setup differ significantly from well-studied 2HDMs with natural flavor conservation, flavor alignment, or minimal flavor violation. New production mechanisms for the heavy scalar, pseudoscalar, and charged Higgs involving second generation quarks can become dominant. The most interesting decay modes include H/A -> cc, tc, μμ, τμ and H+ -> cb, cs, μν. Searches for low mass di-muon resonances are currently among the best probes of the heavy Higgs bosons in this setup.

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arXiv2017

Collisions of Dark Matter Axion Stars with Astrophysical Sources

If QCD axions form a large fraction of the total mass of dark matter, then axion stars could be very abundant in galaxies. As a result, collisions with each other, and with other astrophysical bodies, can occur. We calculate the rate and analyze the consequences of three classes of collisions, those occurring between a dilute axion star and: another dilute axion star, an ordinary star, or a neutron star. In all cases we attempt to quantify the most important astrophysical uncertainties; we also pay particular attention to scenarios in which collisions lead to collapse of otherwise stable axion stars, and possible subsequent decay through number changing interactions. Collisions between two axion stars can occur with a high total rate, but the low relative velocity required for collapse to occur leads to a very low total rate of collapses. On the other hand, collisions between an axion star and an ordinary star have a large rate, $Γ_\odot \sim 3000$ collisions/year/galaxy, and for sufficiently heavy axion stars, it is plausible that most or all such collisions lead to collapse. We identify in this case a parameter space which has a stable region and a region in which collision triggers collapse, which depend on the axion number ($N$) in the axion star, and a ratio of mass to radius cubed characterizing the ordinary star ($M_s/R_s^3$). Finally, we revisit the calculation of collision rates between axion stars and neutron stars, improving on previous estimates by taking cylindrical symmetry of the neutron star distribution into account. Collapse and subsequent decay through collision processes, if occurring with a significant rate, can affect dark matter phenomenology and the axion star mass distribution.

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arXiv2017

Collapse of Axion Stars

Axion stars, gravitationally bound states of low-energy axion particles, have a maximum mass allowed by gravitational stability. Weakly bound states obtaining this maximum mass have sufficiently large radii such that they are dilute, and as a result, they are well described by a leading-order expansion of the axion potential. Heavier states are susceptible to gravitational collapse. Inclusion of higher-order interactions, present in the full potential, can give qualitatively different results in the analysis of collapsing heavy states, as compared to the leading-order expansion. In this work, we find that collapsing axion stars are stabilized by repulsive interactions present in the full potential, providing evidence that such objects do not form black holes. In the last moments of collapse, the binding energy of the axion star grows rapidly, and we provide evidence that a large amount of its energy is lost through rapid emission of relativistic axions.

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arXiv2017

QCD Axion Star Collapse with the Chiral Potential

In a previous work, we analyzed collapsing axion stars using the low-energy instanton potential, showing that the total energy is always bounded and that collapsing axion stars do not form black holes. In this paper, we provide a proof that the conclusions are unchanged when using instead the more general chiral potential for QCD axions.

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arXiv2016

The Lifetime of Axion Stars

We investigate the decay of condensates of scalars in a field theory defined by $V({\cal A})=m{}^2\,f{}^2\,[1-\cos({\cal A}\,/\,f)]$, where $m$ and $f$ are the mass and decay constant of the scalar field. An example of such a theory is that of the axion, in which case the condensates are called axion stars. The axion field, $\cal A$, is self adjoint. As a result the axion number is not an absolutely conserved quantity. Therefore, axion stars are not stable and have finite lifetimes. Bound axions, localized on the volume of the star, have a coordinate uncertainty $Δx \sim R \sim 1/(m_a Δ)$, where $R$ is the radius of the star and $Δ= \sqrt{1-E_0{}^2\,/\,m_a^2}$. Here $m_a$ and $E_0$ are the mass, and the ground state energy of the bound axion. Then the momentum distribution of axions has a width of $Δp\sim m_a\,Δ$. At strong binding, $Δ={\cal O}(1)$, bound axions can easily transfer a sufficient amount of momentum to create and emit a free axion, leading to fast decay of the star with a transition rate $Γ\sim m_a$. However, when $Δ\ll 1$, the momentum distribution is more restricted, and as shown in this paper, the transition rate for creating a free axion decreases as $\exp (-p \, Δx) \sim \exp (-Δ^{-1})$. Then sufficiently large, weakly bound axion stars, produced after the big bang, survive until the present time. We plot the region of their stability, limited by decay through axion loss and by gravitational instability, as a function of the mass of the axion and the mass of the star.

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arXiv2015

Boson Stars from Self-Interacting Dark Matter

We study the possibility that self-interacting bosonic dark matter forms star-like objects. We study both the case of attractive and repulsive self-interactions, and we focus particularly in the parameter phase space where self-interactions can solve well standing problems of the collisionless dark matter paradigm. We find the mass radius relations for these dark matter bosonic stars, their density profile as well as the maximum mass they can support.

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