TY - JOUR
T1 - Cosmic birefringence from the Axiverse
AU - Gasparotto, Silvia
AU - Sfakianakis, Evangelos I.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - We revisit the evidence for CMB birefringence in the context of a rich Axiverse. Using probability density functions (PDFs) for various axion parameters, such as the mass and axion decay constant, we construct the PDF for the cosmic birefringence angle and investigate its properties. By relating the observed value of the birefringence angle to the mean or standard deviation of the constructed PDF, we constrain the shape of the input PDFs, providing insights into the statistical distribution of the Axiverse. We focus on three different types of axion potentials: cosine, quadratic, and asymptotically linear axion monodromy. Our analysis showcases the potential of cosmic birefringence in constraining the distribution of axion parameters and uncovering possible correlations among them. We additionally offer predictions for "birefringence tomography", anticipating future measurements of birefringence from lower multipoles, and show how it can be used to rule out simpler versions of the Axiverse. Our findings contribute to the ongoing exploration of the Axiverse and its implications for cosmic birefringence.
AB - We revisit the evidence for CMB birefringence in the context of a rich Axiverse. Using probability density functions (PDFs) for various axion parameters, such as the mass and axion decay constant, we construct the PDF for the cosmic birefringence angle and investigate its properties. By relating the observed value of the birefringence angle to the mean or standard deviation of the constructed PDF, we constrain the shape of the input PDFs, providing insights into the statistical distribution of the Axiverse. We focus on three different types of axion potentials: cosine, quadratic, and asymptotically linear axion monodromy. Our analysis showcases the potential of cosmic birefringence in constraining the distribution of axion parameters and uncovering possible correlations among them. We additionally offer predictions for "birefringence tomography", anticipating future measurements of birefringence from lower multipoles, and show how it can be used to rule out simpler versions of the Axiverse. Our findings contribute to the ongoing exploration of the Axiverse and its implications for cosmic birefringence.
KW - Axions
KW - CMBR polarisation
KW - String theory and cosmology
U2 - 10.1088/1475-7516/2023/11/017
DO - 10.1088/1475-7516/2023/11/017
M3 - Article
SN - 1475-7516
VL - 2023
JO - Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
JF - Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
ER -