Re: Axion? Huh?

[Daniel Schroeder <DSCHROEDER@CC.WEBER.EDU>]

> If I have it right, it's an issue of topology of the vacuum, and
> "gravitons" apply to spacetime warp, while "axions" apply to spacetime
> twist or torsion.  Search on "einstein-cartan theory."  If the vacuum has
> torsion, then torsional defects might exist: they would be the so-called
> "cosmic strings."  But that's "DC torsion".  Spacetime waves would be
> quantized as gravitons, while waves in a vacuum torsion field would be
> quantized as axions.

> The term "Axion" was coined by Dr. F. Wilczek of Inst. of Advanced
> Studies, inspired by the laundry detergent of the same name.  :)

At least originally, the axion (as named by Wilczek) had nothing to
do with gravity; it was a new particle proposed to solve a paradox
of strong-interaction particle physics.  Perhaps the concept has
been generalized, or perhaps there are two completely different
uses of the word.

dan