Peccei-Quinn symmetry with residual symmetries

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mechanism where residual discrete symmetries in Peccei-Quinn symmetry allow for low-scale symmetry breaking, potentially linking axion physics with TeV-scale phenomena and reducing fine-tuning issues.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using residual symmetries to enable low-scale Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking, connecting axion models with accessible collider energies.

Findings

Residual symmetries enable chain breaking at TeV scales.

The mechanism allows sizable Higgs-axion couplings.

Potential for new phenomena at collider experiments.

Abstract

So far the null results from axion searches have enforced a huge hierarchy between the Peccei-Quinn and electroweak symmetry breaking scales. Then the inevitable Higgs portal poses a large fine tuning on the standard model Higgs scalar. Now we find if the Peccei-Quinn global symmetry has a set of residually discrete symmetries, these global and discrete symmetries can achieve a chain breaking at low scales such as the accessible TeV scale. This novel mechanism can accommodate some new phenomena including a sizable coupling of the standard model Higgs boson to the axion.