Vacuum structure of CP^N sigma models at theta=pi

Abstract

We show that parity symmetry is not spontaneously broken in the CP^N sigma model for any value of N when the coefficient of the $θ$--term becomes $θ=π$ (mod $2π$). The result follows from a non-perturbative analysis of the nodal structure of the vacuum functional $ψ_0(z)$. The dynamical role of sphalerons turns out to be very important for the argument. The result introduces severe constraints on the possible critical behavior of the models at $θ=π$ (mod $2π$).