The question of whether axions can account for dark matter is a complex issue that intersects with several fields of study, including cosmology, particle physics, and astrophysics. Constraints on dark matter, particularly axions, come from various sources, including the cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum, large-scale galaxy surveys, and direct detection experiments like XENON1T, as well as astrophysical observations. Let’s break down the evidence and challenges related to axions as a potential dark matter candidate.

Axions as a Dark Matter Candidate

• Axions are hypothetical particles predicted by the Peccei-Quinn theory to solve the strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). These particles are ultra-light, and if they have the right properties, they could contribute to dark matter. Their extremely low mass and weak interactions with other particles make them an intriguing candidate for cold dark matter (CDM).

CMB Power Spectrum Constraints

• The CMB provides crucial insights into the early universe, particularly the fluctuations in the density of matter and radiation, which can be used to infer properties of dark matter. Key features of the CMB, like the angular power spectrum, depend on the density of different components of the universe, including dark matter.
• Axions (if they exist) can significantly affect the CMB power spectrum. Specifically:
  1. Axions as Cold Dark Matter (CDM): If axions make up dark matter, they would impact the early universe’s expansion rate and the growth of cosmic structures. Their presence would modify the sound horizon (the size of the largest sound waves in the early universe), which in turn would affect the CMB peaks.
  2. Axion Dark Matter Density: CMB data, particularly from Planck and WMAP missions, have been used to place upper limits on the density of axion-like particles (ALPs) in the universe. Constraints on dark matter from CMB observations suggest that axions could contribute to dark matter, but their mass must be extremely small (on the order of $10^{-22}eV10^\{-22\}\; \backslash text\{eV\}$10−22eV) for consistency with the observed CMB power spectrum.

Large-Scale Galaxy Surveys

• Surveys of large-scale cosmic structures, such as the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) measurements and the Lyman-alpha forest in quasar spectra, provide further constraints on the properties of dark matter.
  • Axions’ Influence on Structure Formation: The presence of axions as dark matter would have different effects on structure formation compared to other dark matter models. Specifically, axions (due to their small mass) would suppress structure formation at smaller scales compared to cold dark matter. This would leave a distinct signature in the distribution of galaxies, halos, and the clustering of large-scale structures.
  • Large-scale surveys, including data from SDSS and DES, have found no significant deviation from the predictions made by the standard CDM model. The lack of evidence for extra suppression of small-scale structure supports the idea that axions must have a very small mass to avoid disrupting the observed cosmic structures.

Direct Detection Experiments (XENON1T)

• Direct detection experiments, such as XENON1T, search for interactions between dark matter particles and the standard model of particles. These experiments are sensitive to weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), but also test other candidates, including axions.
  • Axion Detection via Axion-Photon Coupling: Axions can interact with photons through an axion-photon coupling, a feature that allows axions to potentially be detected through photon conversion in strong magnetic fields.
  • XENON1T Results: In 2020, XENON1T set stringent limits on interactions between dark matter and nucleons, primarily aimed at WIMPs. However, its sensitivity to axions is less direct, though it has placed upper bounds on the possible axion-photon coupling, which limits the detectability of axions via direct detection experiments.
  • The mass of the axion affects how it could be detected. Ultra-light axions might not interact sufficiently in direct detection experiments like XENON1T, and the limits on axion-photon coupling are critical in determining whether axions are detectable in this manner.

Astrophysical Observations

• Axion-Photon Coupling: Astrophysical observations, such as the behavior of light passing through magnetic fields in galaxies or the supernova 1987A, can provide constraints on the axion-photon coupling constant. If axions are too efficient at converting into photons, they could have observable effects on stellar evolution or the cosmic microwave background.
  • Supernova 1987A: This supernova provided strong constraints on the axion’s interaction with photons. If axions were abundant and could efficiently convert into photons, they would carry away energy from the supernova, altering the light curve. The non-observation of such effects puts upper bounds on the axion-photon coupling.
  • Cosmic Magnetic Fields: Axion-photon interactions could also produce observable effects in galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields, but current astrophysical data have not shown any such evidence, further tightening the constraints on axion properties.

Challenges in Reconciling Findings

1. Mass Range and Detection: The mass of axions that would fit cosmological constraints from the CMB and large-scale surveys is extremely small (around $10^{-22}eV10^\{-22\}\; \backslash text\{eV\}$10−22eV). However, this small mass makes them very difficult to detect in direct detection experiments like XENON1T, which are designed for much heavier dark matter candidates like WIMPs.
2. Axion-Photon Coupling: The limits on the axion-photon coupling derived from astrophysical observations and direct detection experiments often conflict with the range needed for axions to be a significant dark matter component. If the axion-photon coupling is too strong, it would contradict astrophysical constraints, while if it’s too weak, axions may not be detectable by existing experiments.
3. Small-Scale Structure Suppression: While axions’ impact on large-scale structure formation is consistent with observations, their ability to suppress structure formation at smaller scales (such as in dwarf galaxies) has yet to be conclusively validated. This could be a challenge if axions are too light, as they might leave fewer structures or fail to form halos in ways that align with observations.

The constraints from the CMB, large-scale galaxy surveys, direct detection experiments, and astrophysical observations suggest that axions could contribute to dark matter, but their ultra-light mass poses challenges for direct detection and for reconciling all these findings. While their small mass allows them to fit with cosmological data and structure formation at large scales, their axion-photon coupling must be very weak to avoid conflicts with astrophysical limits. As a result, axions remain a viable but challenging candidate for dark matter, and more precise experiments and observations will be needed to further refine their properties and determine their role in the dark matter puzzle.

The observational tension between the large-scale cosmic structure predicted by Cold Dark Matter (CDM) simulations and the actual observed distribution of galaxies has significant implications for the nature of dark matter. The discrepancies observed at small scales—such as the mismatch between the predicted and observed number of satellite galaxies, as well as the core-cusp problem—have prompted reconsideration of the standard CDM paradigm and the exploration of alternative dark matter models. The findings from Lyman-alpha forest data and galaxy surveys are critical in constraining various dark matter candidates like sterile neutrinos and axions. The interplay between dark matter properties and the early universe dynamics could help resolve some of the observed anomalies, offering a path beyond the standard CDM model.

Implications of Discrepancies for the Nature of Dark Matter

1. Core-Cusp Problem and Small-Scale Anomalies
   • The core-cusp problem refers to the discrepancy between the predicted dense central cusps in dark matter halos (as per CDM simulations) and the observed flatter cores in certain galaxies (particularly dwarf galaxies). Additionally, the too many satellite galaxies problem involves predictions from CDM simulations that galaxies should have more satellite galaxies than observed.
   • These small-scale observations suggest that dark matter may not behave exactly as predicted by the standard cold dark matter model. In particular, it implies that dark matter could possess properties that lead to more smoothly distributed halos (i.e., cores instead of cusps), and fewer satellite galaxies may be able to form due to interactions within the dark matter.
2. Hints Toward Alternative Dark Matter Models
   • These discrepancies encourage the exploration of non-CDM dark matter models, which include candidates like self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), sterile neutrinos, and axions.
   • SIDM posits that dark matter particles interact with each other through a force other than gravity, which would lead to redistribution of dark matter within halos and potentially resolve the core-cusp problem. However, the correct amount of self-interaction is still under investigation.
   • Sterile neutrinos and axions are light dark matter candidates with different particle physics properties that could also resolve some of the issues seen in CDM.

Constraining Dark Matter Candidates with Lyman-Alpha Forest and Galaxy Surveys

1. Lyman-Alpha Forest:
   • The Lyman-alpha forest refers to a series of absorption lines observed in the spectra of distant quasars, caused by hydrogen gas in the intergalactic medium. These absorption lines can be used to map the distribution of matter in the universe, including dark matter, by looking at the small-scale density fluctuations at high redshifts.
   • Lyman-alpha forest data are sensitive to the distribution of matter at small scales and can be used to place tight constraints on dark matter models, especially regarding the free-streaming properties of dark matter.
   • In particular, hot dark matter candidates like sterile neutrinos or warm dark matter (such as axions) would have different free-streaming lengths compared to cold dark matter, and this would lead to observable differences in the small-scale power spectrum of matter distribution. These observations help rule out certain classes of sterile neutrinos and axions that do not match the observed data.
2. Galaxy Surveys:
   • Large galaxy surveys, such as SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) and future surveys like EUCLID, provide information about the large-scale structure of the universe (galaxy clusters, voids, and cosmic web), which is influenced by the underlying dark matter distribution.
   • These surveys help in measuring galaxy clustering, void distribution, and galaxy-halo connections, which are sensitive to the dark matter model. The observed distribution of galaxies on these scales helps constrain the behavior of dark matter by comparing simulations that include different dark matter candidates.
   • Axions, for example, are expected to be much lighter than CDM particles and would affect the growth of structure in a different way, suppressing the formation of small-scale structures. If axions are confirmed as the dominant form of dark matter, they would likely lead to a lack of small-scale power in galaxy surveys, consistent with the absence of small galaxies predicted by CDM.

Early Universe Dynamics and Dark Matter Properties

The early universe dynamics play a crucial role in shaping the behavior of dark matter, especially in terms of its influence on structure formation. The thermal history of the universe, which includes the decoupling of dark matter from the photon-baryon fluid, sets the initial conditions for how dark matter clusters and interacts in the post-recombination era. The interplay between dark matter properties and these early dynamics could help resolve some anomalies that arise within the CDM paradigm.

1. The Impact of Dark Matter Properties:
   • The free-streaming length of dark matter particles is crucial in determining the scale of structures that form in the early universe. Warm dark matter (such as axions or sterile neutrinos) would have a larger free-streaming length than cold dark matter, leading to a suppression of small-scale structure formation and fewer small halos (as observed).
   • The decoupling of dark matter from the standard model particles (through processes like reheating and decay of dark matter) sets the stage for the growth of structure. Dark matter models that interact more or less efficiently can have different effects on this early phase of cosmic history, influencing both the formation of large-scale structures and the small-scale power that we observe today.
2. The Role of Interactions and Decoupling:
   • Sterile neutrinos, for instance, could decouple from the thermal bath earlier than CDM and could produce a “hotter” universe at smaller scales, leading to the suppression of small-scale structure, potentially explaining the observed paucity of satellites around large galaxies.
   • Axions also behave as ultra-light bosons, and their interactions (or lack thereof) could lead to a very different phase transition in the early universe compared to CDM, with potentially enhanced clustering at larger scales but reduced clustering at small scales.

The discrepancies between the large-scale cosmic structure predicted by CDM and the observed distribution of galaxies challenge our understanding of dark matter and its properties. Observations from the Lyman-alpha forest and galaxy surveys are critical in constraining various dark matter candidates, such as sterile neutrinos and axions, and they provide strong evidence for the behavior of dark matter on small scales.

The interplay between dark matter properties and early universe dynamics offers a promising path to resolving these anomalies. By extending beyond the standard CDM paradigm, models like self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), sterile neutrinos, and axions provide different frameworks for understanding the formation of cosmic structures. Future observations, especially from EUCLID and other large surveys, will likely provide the key insights needed to refine or revise our models of dark matter and its role in the evolution of the universe.