Gauged Lepton Number, Dirac Neutrinos, Dark Matter, and Muon $g-2$

Abstract

Lepton number is promoted to an $U(1)_L$ gauge symmetry in a simple extension of the standard model. The spontaneous breaking of $U(1)_L$ by three units allows a conserved $Z_3^L$ lepton symmetry to remain, guaranteeing that neutrinos are Dirac fermions, which acquire naturally small masses from a previously proposed mechanism. Dark matter appears as a singlet scalar, with dark symmetry $Z_3^D$ derivable from $Z_3^L$. Muon $g-2$ may be explained.