Exorcising \(w < -1\) (Q2484467)

The paper proposes a new interpretation of the measured accelerated cosmic expansion. The combined dimming of Type Ia supernovae by both a cosmological constant and the conversion of photons into axions in extragalactic magnetic fields can impersonate dark energy with an equation of state as \(w< -1\). This mechanism can mimic equations of state as negative as \(w< -1.5\). The model is consistent with the conventional effective field theory in curved space.