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\centerline{COSMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A LIGHT DILATON}
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\centerline{\bf R. Dick (1) and M. Gaul (1,2)}
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{\bf (1)} Sektion Physik der Ludwig--Maximilians--Universit\"at M\"unchen
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{\bf (2)} Max--Planck--Institut f\"ur Physik, M\"unchen
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{\bf Abstract:} 
Supersymmetric Peccei-Quinn symmetry and string theory predict a complex 
scalar field comprising a dilaton and an axion. These fields are massless 
at high energies, but it is known since long that the axion is stabilized in
an instanton dominated vacuum. Instantons and axions together also provide 
a mechanism to stabilize a dilaton, thus accounting for a dilaton as a 
possible cold dark matter component accompanying the axion. We briefly
review the prospects of this scenario and point out further implications.
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{\bf To appear in the proceedings of COSMO--97, International
Workshop on Particle Physics and the Early Universe, Ambleside (England)
15--19 September 1997.}

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