On dark radiation from string moduli decay to ALPs

TL;DR

This paper investigates how string moduli decay into axion-like particles (ALPs) and contribute to dark radiation, analyzing different stabilization models and their implications for future CMB observations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed evaluation of modulus decay channels into dark radiation and MSSM particles across various string compactification scenarios, highlighting the mild constraints on ALP couplings.

Findings

Decay to dark radiation is suppressed due to multiple MSSM decay modes.

Current constraints on ff are mild despite improved measurements.

Future CMB experiments could detect dark radiation from light ALPs.

Abstract

We examine the issue of dark radiation (DR) from string moduli decay into axion-like particles (ALPs). In KKLT-type models of moduli stabilization, the axionlike phases of moduli fields are expected to decouple whilst in LVS-type moduli stabilization some can remain light and may constitute dark radiation. We evaluate modulus decay to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) particles and dark radiation for more general compactifications. In spite of tightening error bars on \Delta N_{eff}, we find only mild constraints on modulus-ALP couplings due to the somewhat suppressed modulus branching fraction to DR owing to the large number of MSSM decay modes. We anticipate that future CMB experiments with greater precision on \Delta N_{eff} may still turn up evidence for DR if the ALP associated with the lightest modulus field is indeed light.