Implications of the cosmic birefringence measurement for the axion dark matter search

We show that a recent constraint on the cosmic birefringence effect due to dark energy can be related to the constraints on the coupling of axion dark matter to photon, by relying on a simple model of two-axion alignment mechanism with periodic potentials. Owing to the alignment of the potentials, one linear combination of two fields provides a nearly flat direction and acts as dark energy, whereas the other combination provides a steep direction and acts as dark matter. This scenario solves the known conceptual issues of one-field model for dark energy and predicts the connection between seemingly disparate constraints on the dark sectors of our universe.

Automated summary

This study shows that the constraint on cosmic birefringence effect caused by dark energy can be related to the constraints on the coupling of axion dark matter to photon. By using a simple model of two-axion alignment mechanism with periodic potentials, the study explains that one linear combination of two fields acts as dark energy while the other acts as dark matter. This scenario solves the conceptual issues of one-field model for dark energy and predicts the connection between seemingly disparate constraints on the dark sectors of our universe.