Stabilizing the axion by discrete gauge symmetries

The axion solution to the strong CP problem makes use of a global Peccei–Quinn U(1) symmetry which is susceptible to violations from quantum gravitational effects. We show how discrete gauge symmetries can protect the axion from such violations. PQ symmetry emerges as an approximate global symmetry from discrete gauge symmetries. Simple models based on Z_N symmetries with N=11,12, etc., are presented realizing the DFSZ axion and the KSVZ axion. The discrete gauge anomalies are canceled by a discrete version of the Green–Schwarz mechanism. In the supersymmetric extension our models provide a natural link between the SUSY breaking scale, the axion scale, and the SUSY-preserving μ term.