The paradox of axions surviving primordial magnetic fiels

In the presence of primordial magnetic fields the oscillating cosmic axion field drives an oscillating electric field. The ensuing dissipation of axions is found to be inversely proportional to the conductivity of the primordial plasma. This counterintuitive result is essentially equivalent to “Zenoʹs paradox” or the “watched-pot effect” of quantum mechanics. It implies that the standard predictions of the cosmic axion density remain unaltered even if primordial magnetic fields are strong.