{
  "abstract": "Axion identification in multi-phase models is subtle because local mass eigenstates do not by themselves determine global properties such as the fundamental period and domain-wall number. In this paper, we develop a route to identify the axion in a broad class of multi-phase models, including DFSZ-like theories. The construction involves two reductions: gauge identification and integrating out heavy phase fields. We study these reductions explicitly in two representative two-phase models. Gauge identification reduces the compact field space of the phase fields to a quotient space by identifying points connected by gauge transformations, while integrating out heavy phase fields restricts the low-energy dynamics to nonlinear orbits. Under the stated assumptions and within the validity of the derivative expansion, the physical low-energy field space forms a finite union of $S^1$. The axion is identified as the effective field on an $S^1$ orbit and coincides locally with the lightest mass eigenstate near the vacuum. Its fundamental period and domain-wall number are well-defined and can be determined from the original Lagrangian. Nevertheless, the reduction to a single axion does not capture all properties of topological defects in the original multi-phase theory. In particular, axion strings can retain nontrivial gauge flux, while special defect configurations can involve non-negligible spacetime derivatives of the heavy phase fields and invalidate the single-field reduction. These effects represent fundamental differences between multi-phase and single-phase theories at the level of topological defects.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.24028",
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Zhen-Yu Lei"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jian-Wei Cui"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cwptmy50nawee.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.24028",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cwptmy50nawee",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24028",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223040537",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.24028",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cwptmy50nawee.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:30:52Z",
      "native_id": "2610.24028",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24028"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:hep-ph",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Axion identification in multi-phase models",
  "title_text": "Axion identification in multi-phase models",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:33:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cwptmy50nawee",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}