Axion model with the ${\rm SU}(6)$ unification

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ${ m SU}(6)$ unified theory that naturally incorporates a high-quality axion to solve the strong CP problem, predicts observable axion properties, and connects to leptogenesis and supersymmetry.

Contribution

It presents a novel ${ m SU}(6)$ unification model with a global Peccei-Quinn symmetry and discrete gauge symmetry, achieving axion solutions compatible with experimental prospects.

Findings

Axion mass predicted in the range $10^{-3}$ to 0.1 eV.

Universal axion-photon coupling in the model.

Gauge coupling unification possible with supersymmetric extension.

Abstract

We propose an ${\rm SU}(6)$ unified theory that solves the strong ${\it CP}$ problem with a high-quality axion. This is achieved by an automatic global Peccei-Quinn ${\rm U}(1)_{\rm PQ}$ symmetry and the gauged discrete $\mathbb{Z}_{4{\cal R}}$ symmetry. With the axion mass predictions of $m_a \sim {\cal O}(10^{-3} ) - {\cal O}(0.1) \,{\rm eV}$, as well as a universal axion-photon coupling in the unification models, the QCD axion can be probed in the upcoming experiments of IAXO. An intermediate gauge symmetry breaking scale characterized by the axion decay constant is obtained by the Peccei-Quinn quality argument, which is likely to achieve a successful leptogenesis through the type-I seesaw mechanism. The Higgs sector at the electroweak scale is a type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. The gauge coupling unification is possible with the supersymmetric extension.