Axion and Right-handed Neutrino in the Minimal SUSY SO(10) Model

The connection between the axion and right-handed neutrinos is explored in the framework of the minimal SUSY SO(10) model. The former is related to the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) solution to the strong CP problem and the latter is to the light Majorana neutrinos through the see-saw mechanism. In this model, a relative phase between $({\bf 10,1,3}) (\equiv {\bf \bar{\Delta}}_R) \subset {\bf \bar{126}}$ and $({\bf \bar{10},1,3}) (\equiv {\bf \Delta}_R) \subset {\bf 126}$ multiplets of ${\rm SU}(4) \times {\rm SU}(2)_L \times {\rm SU}(2)_R \subset {\rm SO}(10)$ becomes a physical degree of freedom identified with the axion. Then, the PQ symmetry breaking scale ($\Lambda_{\rm PQ}$) and the $B-L$ symmetry breaking scale ($\Lambda_{\rm B-L}$) coincide through the VEV of ${\bf \bar{\Delta}}_R$. The scalar partner of the lightest right-handed neutrino is regarded as the inflaton, which gives a consistent density fluctuation for the CMB.