The photo-philic QCD axion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel framework using the clockwork mechanism to significantly enhance the photon coupling of the QCD axion, predicting observable signals at experiments and colliders.

Contribution

It presents a new model where the QCD axion's photon coupling is exponentially increased, and predicts additional pseudo-scalars detectable at the LHC.

Findings

Enhanced axion-photon coupling via clockwork mechanism

Potential for axion dark matter detection in multiple experiments

Discovery prospects for pseudo-scalars at the LHC

Abstract

We propose a framework in which the QCD axion has an exponentially large coupling to photons, relying on the "clockwork" mechanism. We discuss the impact of present and future axion experiments on the parameter space of the model. In addition to the axion, the model predicts a large number of pseudo-scalars which can be light and observable at the LHC. In the most favorable scenario, axion Dark Matter will give a signal in multiple axion detection experiments and the pseudo-scalars will be discovered at the LHC, allowing to determine most of the parameters of the model.