Anomalous discrete symmetry

We examine an interesting scenario to solve the domain-wall problem recently suggested by Preskill, Trivedi, Wilczek, and Wise. The effective potential is calculated in the presence of the QCD axial anomaly. It is shown that some discrete symmetries such as CP and Z₂, can be anomalous due to a so-called K term induced by instantons. We point out that the Z₂ domain-wall problem in the two-doublet standard model can be resolved by two types of solutions: the CP-conserving one and the CP-breaking one. In the first case, there exist two Z₂-related local minima whose energy splitting is provided by the instanton effect. In the second case, there is only one unique vacuum so that the domain walls do not form at all. The consequences of this new source of CP violation are discussed and shown to be well within the experimental limits in weak interactions.