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Can axions explain both cosmic magnetic fields and gravitational waves?

Christopher Gerlach, Daniel Schmitt, Pedro Schwaller

May 20, 2026

Axion-like particles coupled to photons can delay their onset of oscillation, triggering a burst of photon production via quantum instability. This process generates observable gravitational waves while simultaneously creating strong magnetic fields that match observations of intergalactic space. The model predicts magnetic field strengths consistent with blazar data, making it testable.
Published as Audible Axion Magnetogenesis: Linking Intergalactic Magnetic Fields and Gravitational Waves arXiv:2605.21092
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