The Case for Axion Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper argues that axion dark matter forms a Bose-Einstein condensate with a unique phase space structure in galactic halos, which can be observationally distinguished from other dark matter candidates.

Contribution

It demonstrates that axion dark matter predicts a specific phase space structure consistent with caustic rings, providing a testable observational signature.

Findings

Axion dark matter forms a rethermalizing Bose-Einstein condensate.

Predicted phase space structure matches observed caustic rings.

Other dark matter candidates predict different halo structures.

Abstract

Dark matter axions form a rethermalizing Bose-Einstein condensate. This provides an opportunity to distinguish axions from other forms of dark matter on observational grounds. I show that if the dark matter is axions, tidal torque theory predicts a specific structure for the phase space distribution of the halos of isolated disk galaxies, such as the Milky Way. This phase space structure is precisely that of the caustic ring model, for which observational support had been found earlier. The other dark matter candidates predict a different phase space structure for galactic halos.