Axion-Dilaton Coupling and Gamma-Ray Bursts

Axions emitted in supernovae are interesting candidates to account for Gamma-Ray Bursts provided their energy can be effectively converted into electromagnetic energy elsewhere. We point out that this convertion may occur more efficiently if one considers the coupling between intermediate scale axions and the string theory dilaton along with the inclusion of string loops. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.