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A Flavorful Factoring of the Strong CP Problem

3 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.

3 Pith papers citing it
abstract

Motivated by the intimate connection between the strong CP problem and the flavor structure of the Standard Model, we present a flavor model that revives and extends the classic ${m_u=0}$ solution to the strong CP problem. QCD is embedded into a $SU(3)_1\times SU(3)_2 \times SU(3)_3$ gauge group, with each generation of quarks charged under the respective $SU(3)$. The non-zero value of the up-quark Yukawa coupling (along with the strange quark and bottom-quark Yukawas) is generated by contributions from small instantons at a new scale $M \gg \Lambda_{QCD}$. The Higgsing of $SU(3)^3\to SU(3)_c$ allows dimension-5 operators that generate the Standard Model flavor structure and can be completed in a simple renormalizable theory. The smallness of the third generation mixing angles can naturally emerge in this picture, and is connected to the smallness of threshold corrections to $\bar\theta$. Remarkably, $\bar\theta$ is essentially fixed by the measured quark masses and mixings, and is estimated to be close to the current experimental bound and well within reach of the next generation of neutron and proton EDM experiments.

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2026 3

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UNVERDICTED 3

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background 2

representative citing papers

Quark-Lepton Color-Flavor Unification

hep-ph · 2026-05-28 · unverdicted · novelty 7.0

An SU(12)-based model unifies quark color-flavor and lepton flavor, generates Yukawas via instantons, solves strong CP with massless quarks, implements a flavored seesaw, and stabilizes the proton via a discrete gauge symmetry X = B - 3(L_i + L_j - L_k).

The structure of multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem

hep-ph · 2026-05-07 · unverdicted · novelty 6.0 · 2 refs

Multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem produce varied mass-coupling patterns set by PQ symmetry breaking structure and QCD-EM anomaly alignment, summarized by a general sum rule for N-axion systems.

A Closer Look at Constrained Instantons

hep-th · 2026-04-03 · unverdicted · novelty 6.0

Constrained instantons satisfy all boundary conditions consistently in massive φ⁴ and broken Yang-Mills theories when asymptotic behaviors are tracked properly, resolving a prior claimed inconsistency.

citing papers explorer

Showing 3 of 3 citing papers.

  • Quark-Lepton Color-Flavor Unification hep-ph · 2026-05-28 · unverdicted · none · ref 86 · internal anchor

    An SU(12)-based model unifies quark color-flavor and lepton flavor, generates Yukawas via instantons, solves strong CP with massless quarks, implements a flavored seesaw, and stabilizes the proton via a discrete gauge symmetry X = B - 3(L_i + L_j - L_k).

  • The structure of multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem hep-ph · 2026-05-07 · unverdicted · none · ref 73 · 2 links · internal anchor

    Multi-axion solutions to the strong CP problem produce varied mass-coupling patterns set by PQ symmetry breaking structure and QCD-EM anomaly alignment, summarized by a general sum rule for N-axion systems.

  • A Closer Look at Constrained Instantons hep-th · 2026-04-03 · unverdicted · none · ref 20

    Constrained instantons satisfy all boundary conditions consistently in massive φ⁴ and broken Yang-Mills theories when asymptotic behaviors are tracked properly, resolving a prior claimed inconsistency.