Fast Radio Bursts and Axion Miniclusters

TL;DR

This paper proposes that Fast Radio Bursts can be explained by the explosive decay of axion miniclusters, which are gravitationally bound axion clumps formed in the early Universe.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model linking axion minicluster decay to Fast Radio Bursts, connecting cosmological axion physics with astrophysical observations.

Findings

Model matches observed FRB energy and duration

Explosive decay of axion miniclusters explains FRB event rate

Axion miniclusters could constitute a significant fraction of dark matter

Abstract

Non-linear effects in the evolution of the axion field in the early Universe may lead to the formation of gravitationally bound clumps of axions, known as "miniclusters". Minicluster masses should be in the range $M_{\rm mc}\sim10^{-12} M_\odot$, and in plausible early-Universe scenarios a significant fraction of the mass density of the Universe may be in the form of axion miniclusters. Here I argue that observed properties (total energy release, duration, high brightness temperature, event rate) of recently discovered Fast Radio Bursts can be matched in a model which assumes explosive decay of axion miniclusters.