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New Source for QCD Axion Dark Matter Production: Curvature Induced

Cem Eröncel1,*, Yann Gouttenoire2,3,†, Ryosuke Sato4,‡, Géraldine Servant5,6,§, and Peera Simakachorn7,8,∥

  • *Contact author: cem.eroncel@istinye.edu.tr
  • †Contact author: yann.gouttenoire@gmail.com
  • ‡Contact author: rsato@het.phys.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp
  • §Contact author: geraldine.servant@desy.de
  • ∥Contact author: peera.sima@gmail.com

Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 231002 – Published 1 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/s3t7-41t2

Abstract

We discuss a novel mechanism for generating dark matter from a fast-rolling scalar field, relevant for both inflation and rotating axion models, and apply it specifically to the (QCD) axion. Dark matter comes from scalar field fluctuations generated by the product of the curvature perturbation and the fast-rolling background field. These fluctuations can explain the totality of dark matter in a vast axion parameter space, particularly for the QCD axion, which will be targeted by upcoming experiments. We review the constraints on this mechanism and potential gravitational-wave signatures.

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