The nano-hertz and milli-hertz stochastic gravitational waves in the minimal clockwork axion model

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Yin, Xiangwei, Chiang, Cheng-Wei, Lu, Bo-Qiang, Li, Tianjun
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Yin, Xiangwei
Chiang, Cheng-Wei
Lu, Bo-Qiang
Li, Tianjun
author_facet Yin, Xiangwei
Chiang, Cheng-Wei
Lu, Bo-Qiang
Li, Tianjun
contents The clockwork framework can realize TeV-scale $U(1)_{PQ}$ symmetry breaking while generating a large axion decay constant \(f_a\). We propose a minimal clockwork axion model with three scalar fields, in which two domain walls (DWs) have non-zero tension. The DW associated with one of the fields is formed following the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry breaking and subsequently collapses due to the potential bias induced by the QCD instanton. The nano-hertz stochastic gravitational waves (GWs) generated from this DW annihilation can be probed by Pulsar Timing Arrays experiments. In addition, the DW related to the other field is annihilated by a bias potential originating from higher-dimensional operators, producing a significant GW signal with a peak frequency around \(9.41\times10^{-5}\) Hz, which can be detected by the LISA, Taiji, and TianQin experiments. Constraints on the model from SN1987, dark matter overproduction, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave background, and primordial black holes have been considered. The relic density of QCD axion dark matter can be explained through the misalignment mechanism.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_04281
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The nano-hertz and milli-hertz stochastic gravitational waves in the minimal clockwork axion model
Yin, Xiangwei
Chiang, Cheng-Wei
Lu, Bo-Qiang
Li, Tianjun
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
The clockwork framework can realize TeV-scale $U(1)_{PQ}$ symmetry breaking while generating a large axion decay constant \(f_a\). We propose a minimal clockwork axion model with three scalar fields, in which two domain walls (DWs) have non-zero tension. The DW associated with one of the fields is formed following the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry breaking and subsequently collapses due to the potential bias induced by the QCD instanton. The nano-hertz stochastic gravitational waves (GWs) generated from this DW annihilation can be probed by Pulsar Timing Arrays experiments. In addition, the DW related to the other field is annihilated by a bias potential originating from higher-dimensional operators, producing a significant GW signal with a peak frequency around \(9.41\times10^{-5}\) Hz, which can be detected by the LISA, Taiji, and TianQin experiments. Constraints on the model from SN1987, dark matter overproduction, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave background, and primordial black holes have been considered. The relic density of QCD axion dark matter can be explained through the misalignment mechanism.
title The nano-hertz and milli-hertz stochastic gravitational waves in the minimal clockwork axion model
topic High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.04281