Axion star collisions with Neutron stars and Fast Radio Bursts

TL;DR

This paper proposes that collisions between axion stars and magnetars could explain the origin of most observed fast radio bursts, highlighting a volume effect caused by induced electric dipole moments of neutrons.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism involving volume effects from axion star-neutron star collisions as a source of fast radio bursts, expanding on previous surface effect models.

Findings

Collisions can produce observable fast radio bursts.

Induced electric dipole moments enhance emission effects.

Volume effects may dominate over surface effects.

Abstract

Axions may make a significant contribution to the dark matter of the universe. It has been suggested that these dark matter axions may condense into localized clumps, called "axion stars." In this paper we argue that collisions of dilute axion stars with neutron stars, of the type known as "magnetars," may be the origin of most of the observed fast radio bursts. This idea is a variation of an idea originally proposed by Iwazaki. However, instead of the surface effect of Iwazaki, we propose a perhaps stronger volume effect caused by the induced time dependent electric dipole moment of neutrons.