Current Status of Axion Cosmology

Abstract

We review the current status of axion cosmology in the light of recent work. We conclude that in the standard scenario, in which a global string network forms at the Peccei-Quinn phase transition, the largest contribution to the axion density is from loops, even when uncertainties in the nature of the QCD phase transition are taken into account. We also briefly discuss the implications of non-standard scenarios, such as an inflationary epoch and entropy production.