Related papers: QCD, Strong CP and Axions
I discuss how the solution of the $U(1)_A$ problem of QCD through the existence of the $\theta$-vacuum gave rise to the strong CP problem. After examining various suggested solutions to this problem, I conclude that the only viable solution…
Small size QCD instantons may spoil the axion solution to the strong CP problem if QCD is not asymptotically free at high energy scales. We examine this issue in supersymmetric models using a manifestly supersymmetric scheme to compute the…
I review the axionic solution of the strong CP problem and current status of the cosmic axion search.
Considerable theoretical efforts have gone into expanding the reach of the QCD axion beyond its canonical mass--decay-constant relation. The $Z_\mathcal{N}$ QCD axion model reduces the QCD axion mass naturally, by invoking a discrete…
The QCD axion stands as one of the most promising candidates for resolving the strong CP problem. However, the value of the axion's decay constant $f_a$ and, by extension, its mass $m_a$, remain uncertain within the framework of effective…
An exact duality between axion with arbitrary potential and antisymmetric form-field has been derived some time ago. Using this duality, the axion solution to strong-CP problem has been formulated as a gauge invariant theory of forms. In…
Setting aside anthropic arguments, there is no reason for CP symmetry to be obeyed within the theory of quantum chromodynamics. However, no such violation of CP symmetry has ever been observed in a strongly interacting experiment. This is…
A broad experimental program is targeting the QCD axion band predicted by single-axion solutions to the strong CP problem. Multi-axion theories provide a well-motivated departure from this canonical picture, since additional states…
We discuss conditions that should be satisfied by axion models for solving the strong CP problem. It has been observed that Planck scale effects may render the axion models ineffective if there are gauge invariant operators of dimension…
While the axion was originally introduced to wash out CP violation from strong interactions, new sources of CP violation beyond QCD might manifest themselves via a tiny scalar axion-nucleon component. The latter can be experimentally probed…
We present a new mechanism to solve the strong CP problem using $N\geq2$ axions, each dynamically relaxing part of the $\bar\theta$ parameter. At high energies $M\gg\Lambda_{QCD}$ the $SU(3)_{c}$ group becomes the diagonal subgroup of an…
The topological susceptibility of the QCD vacuum provides an understanding of $\theta$-vacua as vacua of a Chern-Simons gauge theory. In this way, it gives an immediate proof of the physicality of the boundary $\theta$-term. This makes the…
We suggest a new solution to the strong CP problem. The solution is based on the proper use of the boundary conditions for the QCD generating functional integral. We expand the perturbative boundary conditions to both perturbative and…
The existence of topological solutions and axial anomaly open a possibility of P and CP violation in QCD. For a reason that has not yet been established conclusively, this possibility is not realized in strong interactions - the…
Very stringent experimental bounds exist on the amount of P and CP violation in strong interactions. Nevertheless, the presence of non-Abelian topological solutions and the axial anomaly make the issue of CP invariance in QCD non-trivial…
We point out that a QCD axion solving the strong CP problem can arise naturally from parity-odd gauge field C_M in 5-dimensional (5D) orbifold field theory. The required axion coupling to the QCD anomaly comes from the 5D Chern-Simons…
Although QCD axion models are widely studied as solutions to the strong CP problem, they generically confront severe fine-tuning problems to guarantee the anomalous PQ symmetry. In this letter, we propose a simple QCD axion model without…
We consider 5 dimensional gauge theories where the 5th direction is compactified on an interval. The Chern-Simons (CS) terms (favored by naive dimensional analysis) are discussed. A simple scenario with an extra U(1)_X gauge field that…
Inspired by recent studies of high-scale decay constant or flavorful QCD axions, we review and clarify their existence in effective string models with anomalous $U(1)$ gauge groups. We find that such models, when coupled to charged scalars…
We show that there are many candidates for the quintessence and/or the QCD axions in a class of chiral $U(1)$ gauge theories. Their qualities are high enough to serve as the dark energy and/or to solve the strong CP problem. Interestingly,…