Astrophysical Consequences of an Electroweak $η_{\rm w}$ Pseudo-Scalar

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Auteur principal: Davoudiasl, Hooman
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Davoudiasl, Hooman
author_facet Davoudiasl, Hooman
contents Recently, it has been suggested that the spectrum of physical states in the Standard Model may include an ultralight pseudo-scalar, denoted by $η_{\rm w}$, in analogy with the $η'$ state arising from the strong interactions. We find that typical expectations for the properties of $η_{\rm w}$ get challenged by astrophysical constraints on the couplings of ultralight bosons. Our strongest limit sets a lower bound of $\mathcal{O}({\rm 100~TeV})$ on the decay constant of the hypothesized pseudo-scalar. We also briefly discuss whether $η_{\rm w}$ could be a dark matter candidate, or the origin of dark energy, but conclude that those identifications appear unlikely. Given the important implications of a potentially overlooked $η_{\rm w}$ state for a more complete understanding of the electroweak interactions and a fundamental description of Nature, further theoretical and phenomenological investigations of this possibility and its associated physics are warranted.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_02310
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Astrophysical Consequences of an Electroweak $η_{\rm w}$ Pseudo-Scalar
Davoudiasl, Hooman
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Recently, it has been suggested that the spectrum of physical states in the Standard Model may include an ultralight pseudo-scalar, denoted by $η_{\rm w}$, in analogy with the $η'$ state arising from the strong interactions. We find that typical expectations for the properties of $η_{\rm w}$ get challenged by astrophysical constraints on the couplings of ultralight bosons. Our strongest limit sets a lower bound of $\mathcal{O}({\rm 100~TeV})$ on the decay constant of the hypothesized pseudo-scalar. We also briefly discuss whether $η_{\rm w}$ could be a dark matter candidate, or the origin of dark energy, but conclude that those identifications appear unlikely. Given the important implications of a potentially overlooked $η_{\rm w}$ state for a more complete understanding of the electroweak interactions and a fundamental description of Nature, further theoretical and phenomenological investigations of this possibility and its associated physics are warranted.
title Astrophysical Consequences of an Electroweak $η_{\rm w}$ Pseudo-Scalar
topic High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.02310