Suppressing Extra-Dimensional Axion Isocurvature Dynamically
Gongjun Choi, Tony Gherghetta
hep-ph, astro-ph.CO, hep-th
Submitted: 2026-07-10
Comments: 11 pages, 3 figures
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
The gist: Extra-dimensional QCD axion is well motivated by string compactifications and enjoys enhanced protection against quality-violating effects.
Terminology
Abstract
Extra-dimensional QCD axion is well motivated by string compactifications and enjoys enhanced protection against quality-violating effects. If present during inflation, however, its quantum fluctuations generate isocurvature perturbations that strongly constrain the inflationary scale. We propose a dynamical suppression mechanism in warped five-dimensional models, where a radion-inflaton coupling sets the radion minimum at small inter-brane separation during inflation, temporarily enhancing the effective four-dimensional axion decay constant. After inflation, the radion minimum shifts to larger separation, restoring the standard QCD axion window. In a warped orbifold GUT with Goldberger-Wise stabilization, this mechanism can satisfy CMB isocurvature bounds while allowing substantially higher inflationary scales than in conventional pre-inflationary axion cosmology.
Sources
- String Axiverse
- A Holographic Perspective on the Axion Quality Problem
- Flavoured Warped Axion
- The Axion Mass from 5D Small Instantons
- High Quality Axion via a Doubly Composite Dynamics
- TASI Lectures: (No) Global Symmetries to Axion Physics
- UV and IR Effects in Axion Quality Control
- Implications of Protecting the QCD Axion in the Dual Description
- High-Quality Axions from Higher-Form Symmetries in Extra Dimensions
- Extra-dimensional axion patterns
- Extra-Dimensional Axion Expectations
- Open String Axiverse
- String Theory and Grand Unification Suggest a Sub-Microelectronvolt QCD Axion
- An Extra-Dimensional Axion in a 5D Warped Orbifold GUT
- Higher Axion Strings
- Axion couplings in Orbifold GUTs
- A Step in Flux to Suppress Axion Isocurvature
- The Holographic QCD Axion in Five Dimensions
- Axion Quality in Warped Extra-Dimension
- Deconstructing the Extra-Dimensional Axion
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