The absence of global anomalies of CP symmetry
Abstract
Some solutions to the strong CP problem assume that CP symmetry is a gauge symmetry, which is then spontaneously broken. For this scenario to be possible, the CP symmetry should not have any nonperturbative (global) anomalies. In this paper, we study anomalies of CP symmetry of fermions which are coupled to gravity and gauge fields with a gauge group $G$. When $G$ is connected and simply connected, we show that gauging a CP symmetry does not produce any new anomaly beyond the one before gauging it. In particular, the standard model matter content does not have anomalies.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 12 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint