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Spontaneous cogenesis by the QCD axion in a type I seesaw mechanism

Eung Jin Chun

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 095042 – Published 28 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jrb6-kc6w

Abstract

We propose a cogenesis scenario in which both the baryon asymmetry and dark matter abundance originate from the kinetic misalignment of the QCD axion. The framework unifies the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) mechanism with a type I seesaw sector, where Hubble-induced masses and higher-dimensional PQ-violating operators drive early time axion rotation. Working within the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky axion model augmented by heavy neutrinos, we identify the parametric window of right-handed neutrino masses, determined by its decay rate, and the range of Hubble scales compatible with successful cogenesis, while maintaining the axion solution to the strong CP problem and satisfying current limits on axion isocurvature perturbations. Our results establish kinetic misalignment as a robust and predictive mechanism for the QCD-axion cogenesis, leading to correlated constraints on the right-handed neutrino mass and the inflation scale for an axion decay constant within the viable range fa∼108–1012  GeV.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 095042– Published 28 May, 2026
  • Received 23 March 2026
  • Accepted 27 April 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.

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