Axions explain the formation of supermassive black holes at cosmic dawn

TL;DR

This paper proposes that supermassive black holes formed naturally at cosmic dawn due to QCD axions or axion-like particles with specific masses, without extra assumptions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed explanation supporting axions as the key to early supermassive black hole formation, expanding on prior brief findings.

Findings

Supermassive black holes can form naturally at cosmic dawn if dark matter is composed of axions.

Axion mass range $> 10^{-16}$ eV/c^2 is critical for this formation process.

No additional assumptions are necessary for this formation mechanism.

Abstract

In a recent paper we pointed out that supermassive black holes, with masses ranging from $10^5$ to $10^{10} M_\odot$ form naturally at cosmic dawn if the dark matter is QCD axions or axion-like particles with mass $m > 10^{-16}\, \mathrm{eV}/c^2$. No additional assumptions are required. Here we answer in detail the most commonly raised questions regarding our work.