The horizontal axion alternative. The interplay of vacuum structure and flavor interactions

Aharon Davidson, A. H. Vozmediano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

We classify all minimal N-generational SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) axion models according to the structure of their vacuum manifold M, showing that n ≡ π0(M) is such that 1 ≤ n ≤ N. For n < N, the purely axial U(1)A must be explicitly broken in the Yukawa sector, implying that U(1)PQ necessarily distinguishes some quark families. In fact, a complete distinction, i.e. a fully horizontal realization of U(1)PQ does exist for arbitrary N, leading to definite flavor interaction patterns with non-trivial relative structure of the mass matrices Mu versus Md. For each n, in particular for the domain-wall-free n = 1 case, we find a unique Yukawa pattern embeddable in unified SU(5), whereas SO(10) can only host n = N. It is emphasized that axion invisibility guarantees the invisibility of flavor changing neutral currents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)647-670
Number of pages24
JournalNuclear Physics B
Volume248
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Dec 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The horizontal axion alternative. The interplay of vacuum structure and flavor interactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this