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A. Kim, M.H. Montgomery, D.E. Winget (UT)
Axions are hypothetical particles that provide an elegant solution to the strong CP problem in the Standard Model of particle physics. In addition, they can be good dark matter candidates. The problem is that the theory of axions does not really constrain their mass and axions can only account for dark matter if they have the right mass. Several searches are underway which try to find axions and/or constrain their mass. With pulsating white dwarfs, we can place a solid upper limit on the mass of DFSZ axions (one type of axions). We present how this can be done and how it can be improved. We try to see if we can conclude whether axions can be dark matter candidates by looking at the different cosmological models of their formation in the early universe.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: agnes@astro.as.utexas.edu
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.