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Dynamical dark energy from an ultralight axion

Hoang Nhan Luu1,*, Yu-Cheng Qiu2,†, and S.-H. Henry Tye3,4,‡

  • *Contact author: hoang.luu@dipc.org
  • †Contact author: ethanqiu@sjtu.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: sht5@cornell.edu
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Phys. Rev. D 112, 023524 – Published 15 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3mpg-24d2

Abstract

Recently, the Dark Energy Survey Collaboration presented evidence that the equation of state w of the dark energy is varying or w≃−0.948 if it is constant. In either case, the dark energy cannot be due to a cosmological constant alone. Here, we study an ultralight axion (or axionlike particle) with mass mϕ≃2×10−33  eV that has properties that can explain the new w measurement. In particular, w≥−1 and a negative cosmological constant Λ<0 is preferred in this model. We also present a simple formula for w for the model to ease data fitting.

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Phys. Rev. D 112, 023524– Published 15 July, 2025
  • Received 28 March 2025
  • Accepted 21 June 2025
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