Nucleon Electric Dipole Moments from QCD Sum Rules

Abstract

The electric dipole moments of nucleons (NEDM, d_N) are calculated using the method of QCD sum rules. Our calculations are based on the parity and time reversal violating parameter $\thetabar$ in QCD and establish a functional dependence of the NEDM on $\thetabar$, without assuming a perturbative expansion of this symmetry breaking parameter. The results obtained from the QCD sum rules approach are shown to be consistent with the general symmetry constraints on CP violations in QCD, including the necessity of: (1) finite quark masses, (2) spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking, and (3) the U_A(1) anomaly. Given the current experimental upper bound on the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM), d_n < 10^(-25) e-cm, we find | \thetabar | < 10^(-9). This result is compatible with previous calculations of nEDM using different techniques and excludes the possibility of solving the strong CP problem within QCD via a dynamical suppression mechanism.