Solving the Strong CP and the SUSY Phase Problems with Parity Symmetry

Abstract

We propose a simultaneous solution to the strong CP problem and the SUSY phase problem based on parity symmetry realized when the supersymmetric standard model is embedded into a left-right symmetric framework at a scale near 2 x 10^{16} GeV, as suggested by neutrino masses and gauge coupling unification. In this class of models, owing to parity, SUSY contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment can be naturally large without conflicting with the EDM of the electron and the neutron. The strong CP violation parameter \theta is zero at the tree level, also due to parity (P), but is induced due to P-violating effects below the unification scale. We estimate the induced \theta to be < 10^{-16}, if we adopt a constrained supersymmetric spectrum with universal scalar masses. In the more general SUSY breaking scenario, after imposing flavor changing constraints, we find theta ~ (10^{-8}-10^{-10}), which is compatible with, but not much below the present limit on neutron EDM. We also argue that potential non-perturbative corrections to \theta from quantum gravitational effects are not excessive in these models.