Eur. Phys. J. C (2018) 78: 779
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-6246-6

Letter

Cosmological imprints of string axions in plateau

¹ Department of Physics, Kobe university, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
² Department of Physics and Astrophysics, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
³ Institut de Ciencies del Cosmos, Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

^* e-mail: urakawa.yuko@h.mbox.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Received: 6 August 2018
Accepted: 13 September 2018
Published online: 26 September 2018

Abstract

We initiate a study on various cosmological imprints of string axions whose scalar potentials have plateau regions. In such cases, we show that a delayed onset of oscillation rather generically leads to a parametric resonance instability. In particular, for ultralight axions, the parametric resonance can enhance the power spectrum slightly below the Jeans scale, alleviating the tension with the Lyman forest observations. We also argue that a sustainable resonance can lead to an emission of gravitational waves at the frequency bands which are detectable by gravitational wave interferometers and pulsar timing arrays and also to a succeeding oscillon formation.