Time-varying Quark Masses and Cosmological Axion Energy

Abstract

The possibility is examined that the masses of the light quarks $u$ and $d$ have varied over the course of the universe's evolution. Such a variation would have an effect on axion cosmology, and can be the basis of a solution of the so-called axion energy problem. If this is the case, a scalar force somewhat weaker than gravity could exist that has a range of order 1 km.

Comments: 9 pages