Axion dark matter: new experimental search, phenomenological motivation, and theoretical background ((10) D05+)

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Axions are among the most attractive particle candidates for cosmic dark matter. A new search approach will be pursued, based on layered dielectrics in a strong B-field, to convert dark-matter axions to microwave photons (around 25 GHz). Our mass range around 100 eV complements existing experiments and is natural in scenarios where the Peccei-Quinn transition occurs after inflation. The cosmic production from a patchwork of axion-field domains and concomitant minicluster formation will be studied as well. Model building in string theory complements these experimental and phenomenological investigations to provide a truly unified framework for the Peccei-Quinn mechanism and cosmologically relevant axions.